PROPERTY
OF THE
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
2023
V
PUBLIC LAWS
CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
PROCLAMATIONS
S T A T U T E S A T L A R G E
CONTAINING THE
LAWS AND CONCURRENT RESOLUTIONS
ENACTED DURING THE FIRST SESSION OF THE
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
2023
AND
PROCLAMATIONS
V
IN ONE PART
UNITED STATES
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
WASHINGTON : 2026
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY OF LAW UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE ARCHIVIST OF THE UNITED STATES BY THE OFFICE OF THE FEDERAL REGISTER, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION
For sale by the
Superintendent of Documents
U.S. Government Publishing Office
Washington, DC 20402–9328
PUBLIC LAWS
ENACTED DURING
FIRST SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS
OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Feb. 9, considered and passed House.
Mar. 8, considered and passed Senate.
[S. 619]
COVID–19 Origin Act of 2023.
Deadline.
Reports.
Mar. 1, considered and passed Senate.
Mar. 10, considered and passed House.
Mar. 20, Presidential statement.
COVID–19.
Feb. 1, considered and passed House.
Mar. 29, considered and passed Senate.
[H.R. 346]
NOTAM Improvement
Act of 2023.
Deadline.
Recommenda-
tions.
Deadline.
Briefings.
Jan. 25, considered and passed House.
May 9, considered and passed Senate, amended.
May 22, House concurred in Senate amendment.
Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.
The table of contents for this Act is as follows:
Time period.
Effective date.
Deadline.
May 31, considered and passed House.
June 1, considered and passed Senate.
[S. 777]
Veterans’ Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment
Act of 2023.
Federal Register,
publication.
H.R. 7777.
Mar. 30, considered and passed Senate.
May 22, considered and passed House.
[S. 467]
Changing Age-Determined Eligibility To Student Incentive Payments Act.
May 16, considered and passed Senate.
June 12, 14, considered and passed House.
[S. 30]
Fiscal Year 2023 Veterans Affairs Major Medical Facility Authorization Act.
State listing.
Mar. 21, considered and passed Senate.
June 20, considered and passed House.
[S. 111]
Providing Accountability Through Transparency
Act of 2023.
June 22, considered and passed Senate.
July 17, considered and passed House.
250th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps Commemorative Coin Act.
Review.
July 11, considered and passed House.
July 20, considered and passed Senate.
[H.R. 423]
Pala Band of Mission Indians Land Transfer
Act of 2023.
Deadline.
Feb. 6, considered and passed House.
July 18, considered and passed Senate.
June 20, considered and passed House.
July 13, considered and passed Senate.
United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade First Agreement Implementation Act.
Requirements.
President.
Deadlines.
Time period.
Confidentiality.
Public information.
Web posting.
Deadlines.
Time period.
President.
Public information.
Web posting.
June 21, considered and passed House.
July 18, considered and passed Senate.
Aug. 7, Presidential statement.
Securing the U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network Act.
Grants.
July 25, considered and passed House.
July 27, considered and passed Senate.
Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Applicability.
Apportionments.
Expiration date.
Extensions.
Deadline.
President.
Rescissions.
Extension.
Extension.
Effective date.
Deadline.
List.
Updates.
Effective date.
Time periods.
Effective date.
Transfer authority.
Effective date.
Extension.
Extension.
Termination date.
Termination date.
Notwithstanding section 101, the matter preceding the first proviso under the heading “
* I of division L of Public Law 117–328 shall be applied by substituting “$617,000,000” for “$570,000,000” and substituting “$2,174,200,000” for “$2,221,200,000”.
Sept. 30, considered and passed House and Senate.
[S. 475]
July 13, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 18, considered and passed House.
Protecting Hunting Heritage and Education Act.
Sept. 26, considered and passed House.
Sept. 27, considered and passed Senate.
[S. 112]
Establishment.
Establishment.
Time period.
Deadline.
38 USC
prec. 1801.
July 13, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 18, 19, considered and passed House.
[S. 2795]
Sept. 13, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 26, considered and passed House.
[H.R. 366]
Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief Act.
Determination.
Time period.
May 22, considered and passed House.
Oct. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Wounded Warrior Access Act.
Website.
Deadlines.
Deadline.
Mar. 7, considered and passed House.
Nov. 2, considered and passed Senate.
Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024.
The table of contents of this Act is as follows:
Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024.
Applicability.
Apportionment.
Ante, p. 74.
Ante, p. 74.
Ante, p. 71.
Ante, p. 73.
Ante, p. 78.
Ante, p. 78.
Effective date.
Katherine Anne Feinstein.
“This division may be cited as the ‘
This division may be cited as the “
Nov. 14, considered and passed House.
Nov. 15, considered and passed Senate.
Testing, Rapid Analysis, and Narcotic Quality Research Act of 2023.
Consultation.
Strategies.
May 9, 11, considered and passed House.
June 22, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 4, House concurred in Senate amendment.
National Guard and Reservists Debt Relief Extension Act of 2023.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.
Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate.
[S. 788]
Duck Stamp Modernization Act of 2023.
July 27, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, 12, considered and passed House.
[S. 2747]
Sept. 7, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.
[S. 2787]
5G Spectrum Authority Licensing Enforcement Act.
Time period.
Sept. 21, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.
Time period.
Effective date.
June 5, considered and passed House.
Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate.
Time period.
Effective date.
June 5, considered and passed House.
Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate.
Time period.
Effective date.
June 5, considered and passed House.
Dec. 14, considered and passed Senate.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
Compliance.
Department of State Authorization Act of 2023.
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024.
July 12–14, considered and passed House.
July 27, considered and passed Senate, amended.
Dec. 7, 12, 13, Senate considered and agreed to conference report.
Dec. 14, House agreed to conference report.
Dec. 22, Presidential statement.
Grand Ronde Reservation Act Amendment of 2023.
Nov. 6, 8, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Oregon.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 11, considered and passed House.
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate.
Feb. 2, 2023
Mar. 29, 2023
Mar. 29, 2023
May 11, 2023
June 14, 2023
July 25, 2023
Today, we honor the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., by continuing his unfinished work to redeem the soul of America.
Dr. King came of age in the South during a time when racial discrimination was the law of the land. Black Americans risked jail time for accessing public accommodations like drinking fountains, parks, restrooms, restaurants, and hotels. Their voting rights were denied by complicated, onerous, and discriminatory rules. Even if they attempted to register to vote, they could be fired from their jobs, be run off of their farms, or face vigilante violence.
Dr. King imagined a different future for America—an America he called the “Beloved Community.”; Building the Beloved Community required a key shift in human understanding. It meant looking beyond external differences to see the union of all humankind. It also meant finding a way to deal with our grievances without animosity, in a way that recognized the interconnectedness of all humanity and allowed us to move forward together.
From the pulpit to the podium to the streets, Dr. King devoted his life to the quest for this Beloved Community in our Nation. His activism and moral authority helped usher in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. He gave a voice to the restless spirit of millions yearning for change. He gave us a roadmap to unify, to heal, and to sustain the blessings of the Nation to all of its people.
But the work continues because it remains unfinished. That is why my Administration has called on the Congress to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to ensure that every citizen has a voice in deciding our future.
In keeping with Dr. King’s campaign for economic justice and the rights of workers, my Administration is striving to make the American Dream a reality for every family. By creating good-paying jobs, investing in the middle class, improving access to affordable housing and quality education, and closing the racial and gender wealth gaps, we can give hardworking families the dignity Dr. King would say they deserve.
Dr. King called for greater fairness in our health care system, and my Administration is pushing to put quality, affordable health care within reach of all people—especially the most vulnerable and marginalized Americans. By lowering costs and improving access, we can make health care a right and not just a privilege.
Dr. King preached that “darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that.”; In his memory, we strive to challenge violence and bigotry with grace and goodness. We work to embed equity and opportunity into all of the Federal Government’s policies and programs. And we serve to bring together a Nation in our dedication to these ideals.
This Sunday, I will pay my respects and express my gratitude for his life and legacy by speaking at services at his cherished Ebenezer Bap
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Monday, January 16, 2023, as the Martin Luther King, Jr., Federal Holiday. I encourage all Americans to observe this day with appropriate civic, community, and service projects in honor of Dr. King and to visit MLKDay.gov to find Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service projects across our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Religious Freedom Day, we reflect on our right to practice, pray, and preach our faiths peacefully and openly. Across the country, we practice many different religions. We celebrate many different traditions. And we honor our faiths in many different ways and places—from churches, to mosques, to synagogues, to temples. This religious freedom—this freedom to practice religion fully and freely or to practice no religion at all—is enshrined in our Constitution. And together we must continue to preserve and protect it.
This effort is as important now as it has ever been. In the United States, we are facing a rising tide of antisemitism and renewed attacks against certain religious groups. Across the world, minority communities—including Uyghurs, Rohingya, Ahmadiyya Muslims, Jews, Christians, Bahá’ís, Yezidis, atheists, and humanists—continue to face intimidation, violence, and unequal protection under the law. This hate is harmful to our communities and countries, and it is on all of us to speak out and stop it.
That is exactly what my Administration is doing. We established the Protecting Places of Worship Interagency Policy Committee last January, and implemented the largest-ever increase in funding for the phys-
The United States is also speaking out and standing up against religious persecution around the world. Last year, my Administration provided $20 million to help promote religious freedom and protections for members of religious minorities globally, including helping ensure that people everywhere can practice their faiths free from fear. I appointed Rashad Hussain as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom—the first Muslim to hold this post—and Deborah Lipstadt, a Holocaust expert, as the first Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. As a founding member of the International Religious Freedom or Belief Alliance, we also have coordinated with partners around the world to promote the rights of religious minority groups and combat persecution. And we are ensuring that United States diplomats continue to receive training on religious freedom and its central importance to our work.
Faith has sustained me throughout my life. For me and for so many others, it serves as a reminder of both our collective purpose and potential in the world. But for far too many people within our borders and beyond, practicing their faith still means facing fear and persecution. Today, let us recommit ourselves to ending this hate. And let us work together to ensure that people of all religions—and no religion—are treated with equal dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2023, as Religious Freedom Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Fifty years ago, on January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court issued its landmark 7–2 decision in Roe v. Wade, protecting a woman’s constitutional right to choose. This case reaffirmed basic principles of equality, reinforced the fundamental right to privacy, and resolved that women in this country could control their own destinies—making deeply personal decisions free from political interference.
The Court got Roe right 50 years ago. It was a balanced decision with broad national consensus that the majority of Americans have continued to support for the last 50 years. And it was a constitutional principle upheld by justices appointed by Democratic and Republican Presidents alike.
But 7 months ago, a conservative majority on the Supreme Court overturned Roe. Never before has the Court taken away a right so fundamental to Americans. In doing so, it put the health and lives of women across this Nation at risk. The Supreme Court opened the door for new challenges to other fundamental freedoms, including access to contraception and the right to marry whom you love. Millions of women now live in States with extreme bans on abortion, many without exceptions for rape and incest, or, where doctors can be jailed for providing reproductive care. Today, trailblazers who fought heroically for the Roe v. Wade decision are watching the next generation grow up without its protections.
On what would have been the 50th anniversary of protections under Roe v. Wade, my Administration is resolute in its commitment to defending reproductive rights and continuing our Nation’s progress toward equality for all. In response to the Court’s extreme Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, I issued Executive Orders to ensure that patients receive care during medical emergencies; to protect access to contraception and abortion services, including access to medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration; and to improve the safety of patients, providers, and clinics. My Administration is helping to safeguard patients’ privacy over their health data and is ensuring that women everywhere have access to accurate information about their reproductive rights. I also created an Interagency Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access to lead our Government-wide response. And senior Administration leaders, including Vice President Kamala Harris, have traveled the country listening to women, health care providers, legal experts, and State and local officials to ensure that our efforts are reaching those most in need of support.
Since the Court’s decision to overturn Roe, Americans across the country—from California to Kansas to Michigan—have made clear at the ballot box that they believe the right to choose is fundamental and should be preserved. Still, we know that the only way to truly secure the right to choose is for the Congress to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade. I continue to call on the Congress to pass legislation to make those protections the law of the land once and for all. Until then, I will
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 22, 2023, as the 50th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Decision. I call upon Americans to honor generations of advocates who have fought for reproductive freedom, to recognize the countless women whose lives and futures have been saved and shaped by the Roe v. Wade decision, and to march forward with purpose as we work together to restore the right to choose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on January 21, 2023, in Monterey Park, California, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, January 26, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During American Heart Month, we recommit to supporting the more than 120 million Americans living with a cardiovascular condition; advancing groundbreaking and lifesaving research; and expanding access to affordable health care, prescription drugs, and healthy lifestyles.
Heart disease has long been the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming nearly 700,000 lives a year. Nearly half of all American adults have at least one major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. From heart attacks and strokes to high blood pressure, the threat of cardiovascular disease touches almost every family in our Nation. But while heart conditions can be costly and deadly, they are also often preventable with access to affordable health care, advancements in technology, and lifestyle changes.
There is so much we can do to keep advancing our fight against heart disease. Last March, I was proud to launch a major biomedical innovation initiative, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, to drive breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating life-threatening conditions like Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancers—progress that can lead to critical advancements on a range of cardiovascular diseases as well. Meanwhile, to help more families afford existing treatments, the Inflation Reduction Act will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year, no matter the medication—including those that work to prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure or cholesterol, manage diabetes, and otherwise promote heart health. That landmark law will also bring down the cost of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act and allow more Americans to gain coverage. This will help more people access free preventative services like blood pressure and obesity screenings and afford quality, comprehensive care if diagnosed.
My Administration is working to help more people lead heart-healthy lifestyles as well. At last fall’s White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health—the first in over 50 years—we released a national strategy to reduce diet-related diseases. This includes providing healthy, free meals to millions more school kids; boosting Medicaid and Medicare coverage for services like nutrition and obesity counseling; expanding incentives for fruits and vegetables in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; and increasing access to parks and exercise, especially in underserved communities. To further reduce smoking, a major cause of heart disease, the Food and Drug Administration has also proposed a rule to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes and flavored cigars, which are popular among first-time smokers.
As treatments and access to care improve, we can each help to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy heart. Exercising regularly, eating well, managing weight, and avoiding smoking or vaping are proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. And we can save lives by each learning the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke and consulting a doctor if we have risk factors or symptoms.
We encourage all Americans to help bring attention to heart health by wearing red on National Wear Red Day, held on Friday, February 3rd. This month and always, we honor the memories of those we have lost to heart disease, and we celebrate the courage of the countless loved ones who are living strong, full lives despite having heart conditions. I am committed to doing all I can to improve their futures.
To learn more about heart health, please talk to your health care provider or visit CDC.gov/heartdisease.
In acknowledgement of the importance of the ongoing fight against cardiovascular disease, the Congress, by Joint Resolution approved December 30, 1963, as amended (36 U.S.C. 101), has requested that the President issue an annual proclamation designating February as “American Heart Month.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim February 2023 as American Heart Month, and I invite all Americans to participate in National Wear Red Day on February 3, 2023. I also invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, officials of other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, and the American people to join me in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to fighting cardiovascular disease and extending the promise of a long and healthy life across this country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Black History Month, we celebrate the legacy of Black Americans whose power to lead, to overcome, and to expand the meaning and practice of American democracy has helped our Nation become a more fair and just society. This country was established upon the profound but simple idea that all people are created equal and should be treated equally throughout their lives.
It is an idea America has never fully lived up to, but it is an idea we have never fully walked away from either. The struggles and challenges of the Black American story to make a way out of no way have been the crucible where our resolve to fulfill this vision has most often been tested. Black Americans’ struggles for freedom, equal treatment, and the right to vote; for equal opportunities in education, housing, and the workplace; for economic opportunity, equal justice, and political representation; and so much more have reformed our democracy far beyond its founding. Black Americans have made a way not only for themselves but also have helped build a highway for millions of
From the start, the Biden-Harris Administration has been committed to using the power of the Federal Government to address the long-standing disparities that have hampered the progress of Black communities. On day one of my Presidency, I issued an Executive Order to advance equity and racial justice in every policy we pursue. I began by appointing the most diverse Cabinet in American history. I have continued to nominate a historic number of Black judges to the Federal bench—including Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court.
During the height of the COVID–19 crisis, my Administration provided relief to hardworking families, which cut the rate of poverty in Black American communities by nearly a third and cut the rate of poverty among Black children by more than half. My health care policies have dramatically increased health care access and reduced costs for Black American families and capped insulin bills for seniors at $35 per month per prescription.
We are also working to address centuries of neglected infrastructure in Black American communities. My Administration is leading the replacement of lead pipes embedded in cities across America so that every child can safely turn on the faucet and drink clean water. We are expanding public transit and providing high-speed internet to every neighborhood in the country so parents can get to work and children can do their homework in the comfort of their own homes.
We are using every avenue to confront racial discrimination in housing and in mortgage lending and to help build generational wealth in Black communities. We are working to ensure that any housing agency that receives Federal funds will reach beyond the simple promise not to discriminate and will instead take meaningful, affirmative steps to overcome historic patterns of segregation, giving every person a fair chance to live where they choose. We are addressing the negative impacts of redlining and other forms of financial discrimination. And we are working to end a discriminatory system of appraisals that assigns lesser values to Black-owned family homes than to similar homes owned by white families.
Additionally, we have invested nearly $6 billion in Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We have also taken historic action to ease the burden of crippling student debt—action which benefits so many Black students and families. I am proud to have permanently authorized the Minority Business Development Agency and to have given it expanded authority to help grow Black-owned businesses. I have set a goal to increase the share of Federal contracting dollars going to small disadvantaged businesses by 50 percent by 2025, which will bring up to an additional $100 billion in capital to these businesses.
In May 2022, I signed an Executive Order promoting effective, accountable, and transparent community policing—delivering the most significant police reform in decades. Among other important measures that increase transparency and accountability, it raises policing standards by banning choke holds, restricting no knock warrants, and requiring body-worn cameras on patrols and during searches and arrests. It creates a new national law enforcement database to track records of misconduct, and it aims to safely reduce incarceration, support rehabilita
Equal access to the ballot box is the beating heart of our democracy. Without it, nothing is possible; with it, anything is. I restored the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, appointing top attorneys to oversee enforcement of civil rights laws, and the Department has doubled the voting rights enforcement staff. Every agency of my Administration has been ordered to expand access to voter registration and election information. These are all important steps, but I will continue to push the Congress to repair the damage to voting rights in this country by passing the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement and Freedom to Vote Acts, to ensure every American has a voice in the democratic process.
This year, on what would have been Dr. King’s 94th birthday, I was honored to be the first sitting President to deliver a sermon at Sunday service at his cherished Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. The life of Dr. King demonstrates that democracy is an enduring covenant that must be persistently renewed; nothing about it is guaranteed. During National Black History Month, we honor and continue the work of Black Americans who have created a more fair and inclusive democracy, helping our Nation move closer to the realization of its full promise for everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2023 as National Black History Month. I call upon public officials, educators, librarians, and all the people of the United States to observe this month with relevant programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Across America, young people are impacted by abusive relationships, suffering in silence as they are threatened with or subjected to physical violence, sexual violence, psychological aggression, or stalking from a current or former intimate partner. During National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we bring this scourge out of the shadows, recommit to promoting healthy relationships, and join to
Each year, around 12 percent of American high schoolers experience physical or sexual violence at the hands of an intimate partner. Young women, transgender teens, and gender nonconforming youth are disproportionately affected. Dating violence can also occur on social media, online, and through other electronic communication in the form of cyberstalking, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, and other technology-facilitated harms. This trauma not only affects survivors’ health, safety, and aspirations as teenagers—it can also follow them into adulthood and increase the risk of violence in future relationships.
When we teach teens about healthy, nonviolent relationships, we support their development and create safer, healthier communities for everyone. That is why my Administration is advancing efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to provide training for educators, families, and community members to teach young people how to form healthy relationships and leave abusive ones. These tools can be found at VetoViolence.CDC.gov. My Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse is also committed to addressing ways that technology can be used to cause harm, including as a form of dating violence among young people. Additionally, in 2022 I worked with the Congress to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act, including enhancing grant programs and increasing funding for non-profit organizations, Tribes, and local governments that are working to reduce and address teen dating violence.
By recognizing the signs of dating and domestic violence, setting positive examples of healthy relationships that lift up instead of tear down, and making clear that abuses of power are never acceptable, we can build a culture where respect is the norm, dignity is the rule, and safety is the expectation—both online and offline. We can measure up to the standards of equality, opportunity, and justice that define our Nation at its best.
If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship of any kind, immediate and confidential support is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline’s project focused on supporting young people by visiting loveisrespect.org, calling 1–866–331–9474 (TTY: 1–800–787–3224), or texting “LOVEIS”; to 22522.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 2023 as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. I call upon everyone to educate themselves and others about teen dating violence so that together we can stop it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
For 30 years, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) has given American workers the right to take time to care for themselves and their loved ones without losing their jobs. When President Clinton signed it into law on February 5, 1993, I was proud to have fought for it as a United States Senator alongside tenacious advocates and Members of Congress.
Before its passage, parents were not guaranteed time off for staying home with a newborn or sick child, and workers could lose their health insurance for taking leave to fight an illness. The FMLA ended that for millions of Americans, guaranteeing up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually to care for a spouse, a parent, a child, or themselves, and preserving their jobs until they returned. The law has given countless Americans peace of mind in their toughest moments. It has made workplaces fairer and healthier. And it has made it easier for millions of women—who still disproportionately shoulder caregiving responsibilities—to remain in the workforce, benefitting our whole economy.
But it is not enough to just protect people’s jobs; we must also protect their paychecks so every American worker can afford to be there for their loved ones. The COVID–19 pandemic made this even more obvious. The United States is one of the only countries in the world that does not provide paid leave to its workers, undermining the health and economic security of families and our Nation. As millions more Americans join today’s so-called “sandwich generation,”; struggling to care for both young kids and aging parents, we need to help.
That is why, when I took office as President, I proposed the first national paid family and medical leave program in our history. Paid leave would help bring more people back into the workforce—boosting productivity, securing wages, and easing budgets for working families. And it would give workers more dignity and control over their own lives.
During the depths of the COVID–19 pandemic, my Administration expanded the Child Tax Credit to give millions of families a little more breathing room, helping cut child poverty to the lowest rate on record. We gave 200,000 childcare providers the funding needed to keep their doors open, serving over 9.5 million children nationwide. We invested $145 million in the National Family Caregiver Support Program, which gives family and other informal care providers counseling, training, and respite care to support loved ones. I recently signed the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act to ensure that employers make reasonable accommodations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions. And just yesterday, I signed a Presidential Memorandum to make sure Federal employees are able to access leave when they need it, to the fullest extent possible.
I ran for President to restore the backbone of this country—the middle class. My Administration is fighting for working families across the board. We are lowering health care costs and prescription drug costs.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 5, 2023, as the 30th Anniversary of the Family and Medical Leave Act. I call upon Americans to honor those who advocated for this crucial legislation and to join the fight for the dignity and rights of workers across this Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Nearly 1 in 10 Americans are expected to develop an eating disorder in their lifetime. When left untreated, eating disorders can have devastating effects on a person’s health. Each of us has the power to help people who are struggling to receive the support and treatment they need and to promote a culture that treats everyone with dignity and respect. During National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, we call attention to this serious health condition and reaffirm that, with early access to treatment and support, a full recovery is possible.
My Administration is taking action to address eating disorders. Through the National Institute of Mental Health, we are working to develop better therapies and interventions. Through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and funding for the National Center of Excellence for Eating Disorders, we are also helping health care providers, families, caregivers, and community members access new tools and trainings to help detect and treat eating disorders.
I made tackling the mental health crisis a key pillar of my Administration’s Unity Agenda, and since coming into office, I have invested billions of dollars to improve access to mental health services. For example, we are expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which deliver 24/7 mental health care to millions of Americans, regardless of their ability to pay. We are also shaping brighter futures for the next generation by helping schools hire more counselors, social workers, and nurses; expanding training for health care professionals; integrating mental health into primary care; strengthening enforcement
This week, let us acknowledge the families of those struggling with eating disorders as they care for their loved ones. Let us recommit to celebrating and supporting our fellow Americans who are on their road to recovery. And let us spread the word that help is just a phone call away: The SAMHSA National Helpline at 1–800–662–4357 is a confidential, free, 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year information and referral service. For anyone experiencing a crisis, immediate and confidential help is also available by calling or texting 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim February 26 through March 4, 2023, as National Eating Disorders Awareness Week. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent eating disorders and that will improve access to care and other support services for those currently living with an eating disorder.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
1. On January 19, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of aluminum articles on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Secretary found and advised the President of his opinion that aluminum articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
2. In Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary’s finding that aluminum articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of aluminum articles by imposing a 10 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from most countries.
3. In Proclamation 9704, the President also directed the Secretary to monitor imports of aluminum articles and inform the President of any
4. The Secretary has informed me that the capacity utilization in the domestic aluminum industry remains well below the target capacity utilization level recommended in the January 2018 report. The Secretary has also informed me that two of the five remaining aluminum smelters in the United States are in danger of closing as a result of continued high levels of aluminum imports and high energy prices.
5. In the Secretary’s January 2018 report, the Secretary recommended that the President consider applying a higher tariff to a list of specific countries should the President determine that all countries should not be subject to the same tariff. One of the countries on that list was the Russian Federation (Russia). As the Secretary explained in that report, Russia is among the major exporters of aluminum to the United States for domestic consumption. While aluminum imports from Russia have declined from the volume in the Secretary’s 2018 report, Russia remains the fifth largest source of imported aluminum in the United States, and the imports of aluminum from Russia have increased in both 2021 and 2022. Distortions that result from overcapacity threaten market-oriented aluminum industries and Russia’s aluminum industry in particular is extremely export oriented, with Russia being the largest exporter of unwrought aluminum in 2021 and Russian domestic consumption accounting for just 22 percent of Russian production across 2021 and 2022. United States imports of Russian aluminum increased by 53 percent between March and July 2022.
6. Russia continues its unjustified, unprovoked, unyielding, and unconscionable war against Ukraine. The Russian aluminum industry is a key part of Russia’s defense industrial base and has played a major role in supplying Russia with weapons and ammunition used in the war. In addition, Russia’s war against Ukraine has caused global energy prices to rise, causing direct harm to the United States aluminum industry.
7. To further reduce imports of aluminum articles and increase domestic capacity utilization, I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate to impose:
(a) beginning on March 10, 2023, a 200 percent ad valorem tariff on aluminum articles that are the product of Russia and derivative aluminum articles that are the product of Russia; and
(b) beginning on April 10, 2023, a 200 percent ad valorem tariff on aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles are cast in Russia, and derivative aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the derivative aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia.
(c) “Primary aluminum”; is defined as new aluminum metal that is produced from alumina (or aluminum oxide) by the electrolytic Hall-Heroult process.
8. The Secretary has advised me that the tariff adjustment described in paragraph 7 of this proclamation will be a significant step toward ensuring the viability of the domestic aluminum industry.
9. In adopting the tariff adjustment described in paragraph 7 of this proclamation, I recognize that concerns about aluminum imports from Russia and their impact on our national security are shared by other countries, and that we need to work together with our partners to ensure that the global market distortions caused by Russian aluminum articles do not distort our markets and threaten our national security. Any country that imposes a tariff of 200 percent or more on its imports of aluminum articles that are products of Russia may be exempt from the tariff imposed by this proclamation.
10. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.
11. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of aluminum articles that are the product of Russia, or where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles are cast in Russia, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation. In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of derivative aluminum articles that are the product of Russia, or where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the derivative aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation.
(2) Clause 2 of Proclamation 9704, as amended, is further amended in the second sentence by deleting “and”; before “(i)”; and inserting before the period at the end: “, and (j) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and from the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, from the United Kingdom, for aluminum articles covered by headings 9903.85.25 through 9903.85.44, inclusive, and from Russia. Further, except as otherwise provided in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, aluminum articles imports covered by clause 1 of this proclamation that are products of Russia shall be subject to a 200 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023; and aluminum articles imports covered by clause 1 of this proclamation
(3) The first two sentences of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), are revised to read as follows:
“In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of certain derivative articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation. Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative aluminum articles specified in the Annex to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, and all imports of derivative steel articles specified in the Annex to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 8, 2020, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Canada, and the United Mexican States (Mexico) and to imports of derivative steel articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico and to imports of derivative steel articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Mexico, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 1, 2022, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, and Mexico and to imports of derivative steel articles described in the Annex to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, the member countries of the European Union, Japan, Mexico, and South Korea; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June
(4) For purposes of implementing the duty increases in this proclamation, importers shall provide to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) information necessary to identify the countries where the primary aluminum used in the manufacture of aluminum articles imports, covered by clause 1 of Proclamation 9704, and derivative aluminum articles, specified in Annex I of Proclamation 9980, are smelted and information necessary to identify the countries where such aluminum ar
(5) The modifications to the HTSUS made by the Annex to this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.
(6) Any imports of aluminum articles that are the product of Russia shall not be eligible for any General Approved Exclusions as set forth in supplement number 3 to part 705 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, and any imports of aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles are cast in Russia, shall not be eligible for any General Approved Exclusions as set forth in supplement number 3 to part 705 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2023. Any imports of derivative aluminum articles that are the product of Russia shall not be eligible for any General Approved Exclusions as set forth in supplement number 3 to part 705 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, and any imports of derivative aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the derivative aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia shall not be eligible for any General Approved Exclusions as set forth in supplement number 3 to part 705 of title 15 of the Code of Federal Regulations if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2023.
(7) Any imports of aluminum articles that are the product of Russia shall not be eligible for in-quota treatment for any quota or tariff-rate quota maintained under the authority of section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, and any imports of aluminum articles where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles are cast in Russia shall not be eligible for in-quota treatment for any quota or tariff-rate quota maintained under the authority of section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, if entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 10, 2023.
(8) Any imports of aluminum articles or derivative aluminum articles that are the product of Russia, where any amount of primary aluminum used in the manufacture of the aluminum articles or derivative aluminum articles is smelted in Russia, or the aluminum articles or derivative aluminum articles are cast in Russia, that were admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status”; as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made
(9) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
1. On April 8, 2022, I signed the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act (19 U.S.C. 2434 note) (Suspending NTR Act). Section 3(a) of the Suspending NTR Act suspended nondiscriminatory tariff treatment for products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus, and imposed the rates of duty set forth in column 2 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) on all products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus, effective as of April 9, 2022. Section 3(b)(1) of the Suspending NTR Act provides that the President may proclaim increases in the column 2 rates of duty applicable to products of the Russian Federation and of the Republic of Belarus.
2. On April 8, 2022, I signed the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act (22 U.S.C. 8923 note). Section 2 of the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act prohibits imports of all products of the Russian Federation classified under chapter 27 of the HTSUS, in a manner consistent with any implementation actions issued under Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022.
3. In Executive Order 14066 of March 8, 2022, I prohibited, inter alia, the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin: crude oil; petroleum; petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation; liquefied natural gas; coal; and coal products.
4. In Executive Order 14068 of March 11, 2022, I prohibited, inter alia, the importation into the United States of the following products of Russian Federation origin: fish, seafood, and preparations thereof; alcoholic beverages; and non-industrial diamonds.
5. In Proclamation 10420 of June 27, 2022, I stated that I had determined that increasing the column 2 rates of duty to 35 percent ad valorem on certain products of the Russian Federation was warranted and consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States. I also stated that the United States will monitor the implementation of the increased duties, and that I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.
6. In accordance with section 3(b)(1) of the Suspending NTR Act, I have determined that increasing the column 2 rates of duty to 35 percent ad valorem on certain additional products of the Russian Federation and to 70 percent ad valorem on certain other additional products of the Russian Federation, the importation of which has not already been prohibited, is warranted and consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States. In addition, I have determined that increasing the column 2 rates of duty from 35 percent ad valorem to 70 percent ad valorem on certain products covered by Proclamation 10420 of June 27, 2022, the importation of which has not already been prohibited, is warranted and consistent with the foreign policy interests of the United States. These products are listed in the Annex to this proclamation. The United States will monitor the implementation of the increased duties, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.
7. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTSUS the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 3 of the Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act; section 301 of title 3, United States Code; and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) To increase the column 2 rates of duty on imports of certain articles of the Russian Federation as set forth in paragraph 6 of this proclamation, subdivision (b) to U.S. Note 30 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified and new HTSUS heading 9903.90.09 and new subdivisions (c) and (d) to U.S. Note 30 to subchapter III of chap
(2) The modifications to the HTSUS made by clause 1 of this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 1, 2023, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.
(3) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
In the aftermath of the Civil War, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. Its national headquarters, just a few blocks from the White House, was built as a memorial to the women of the Civil War. For nearly 142 years, the employees, volunteers, and supporters of the American Red Cross have met loss and disaster with compassion and care. They remind us that we must leave no one behind. This month, we celebrate the ordinary citizens who perform extraordinary acts of
Across America, I have seen the work of the Red Cross firsthand. When hurricanes make landfall and floodwaters rise, the Red Cross is ready to provide food, shelter, and emergency supplies. When wildfires spread and tornadoes uproot communities, volunteers arrive from around the country to help survivors heal, recover, and rebuild. We have also turned to the American Red Cross to respond to crises overseas in the wake of natural disasters and in preparation for emergencies before they happen. The old saying is still true today: The Red Cross is always there.
During American Red Cross Month, I encourage Americans to learn more about the steps involved in donating blood by visiting redcross.org. If you can give blood, I hope you will. I also encourage Americans to learn or teach first aid and to participate in Sound the Alarm events to prevent home fires. It is in our Nation’s DNA to lift each other up, especially on the frontlines of emergencies and disasters. I know that Americans will always answer the call—doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes to help out those in need.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America and Honorary Chair of the American Red Cross, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as American Red Cross Month. I encourage all Americans to observe this month with relevant programs, ceremonies, and activities, and to support the work of service and relief organizations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Irish-American Heritage Month, I think of my great-great grandparents—the Blewitts of County Mayo and the Finnegans of County Louth. Like so many other Irish immigrants who sought a new beginning in the United States, they arrived on our shores with hearts full of hope and dreams of the future. With grit and determination, they worked hard. And as they built their lives, they helped build America—never forgetting where they came from, always remembering the courage and pride they brought with them from the old country, and passing these traits down to each new generation.
That pride lives on today in the hearts of Irish Americans across our Nation. It lives on in business owners, scientists, and labor leaders who hold dear the Irish belief that everyone deserves to be treated with
President John F. Kennedy once said, “Our two nations, divided by distance, have been united by history.”; Today, the Republic of Ireland and the United States are also bound in our hope for the future—a future that is equal, just, and prosperous for all of our people. Together, our nations have stepped up to address COVID–19 and the climate crisis. We have spoken out for human rights around the world and supported the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal war. And this year, we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that helped create a more peaceful and prosperous future for the people of Northern Ireland.
Ireland and the United States are forever bound together by our people and our passion. Everything between us runs deep. In the years ahead, I look forward to strengthening the partnership between our countries and the friendship between our people even further.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as Irish-American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the achievements and contributions of Irish Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we call attention to the second leading cause of cancer deaths in America—by sharing information about risk factors, promoting life-saving early screenings, and improving access to affordable treatment. In remembrance of every life cut short by this devastating disease, my Administration is determined to end cancer as we know it.
When a loved one is diagnosed with cancer, every minute counts. But patients can be overwhelmed by a flood of medical information, and they too often struggle to afford life-saving care. Our country needs to do more to help patients and families navigate the cancer care system. We need to learn from patients’ experiences, and we need to share data and knowledge to help prevent other families from encountering the same obstacles to prevention and care. When it comes to colorectal cancer, we must also focus our efforts on those most likely to develop
Because early detection drastically improves survival rates, the independent United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends regular screenings for all Americans who are older than 45 or have other risk factors. People should consult a doctor if they experience symptoms including blood in their stool, a change in bowel habits, stomach pain, bloating, persistent cramps, or unexplained weight loss. Vital screenings like colonoscopies can detect cancer early and remove precancerous growths, preventing the disease before it starts.
My Administration is working around the clock to develop new treatments that can turn this and other kinds of cancer from life-threatening diseases into chronic ones that people can live with and that can even cure certain forms of cancer. The First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot initiative that I began as Vice President, setting a new goal of cutting the Nation’s cancer death rate in half in the next 25 years while better supporting patients and caregivers. To develop bold breakthroughs in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer and other deadly diseases, I established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA–H), securing $2.5 billion in funding with bipartisan support from the Congress. And last fall, I signed an Executive Order to help ensure that biotechnology invented in America is made in America, growing our economy and strengthening our supply chains for vital medications.
At the same time, we are continuing to make existing cancer care more affordable. The American Rescue Plan expanded the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to pay for cancer screenings and primary care visits and to cover cancer survivors and others who have preexisting conditions. Last year, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which will cap costs for prescription drugs—including life-saving cancer medicines—for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 per year. My Administration has worked with the private sector to bring cancer screenings to more communities; develop and test new treatments; and share data, which can accelerate research and save lives. My Administration is also promoting cancer prevention and healthy diets, which can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. As part of our national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases, we are working to provide healthy, free meals to millions more school kids; boost Medicaid and Medicare coverage for services like nutrition and obesity counseling; and make fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income families.
The task ahead is great, but I am optimistic. Many thousands of families have shared their cancer stories with me over the years; each time, I am reminded how personal this pain is and how universal the dream of a cure continues to be. This common cause can unite this Nation and the world to join together and marshal the resources, brightest minds, and most dedicated advocates to finally end cancer once and for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage all
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Women’s History Month, we celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity in our Nation. We also reaffirm our commitment to advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls in the United States and around the world. We are mindful that we are building on the legacy of both recognized trailblazers and unsung heroines who have guided the course of American history and continue to shape its future.
The full participation of women is a foundational tenet of democracy. Women—often women of color—have been on the frontlines, fighting for and securing equal rights and opportunity throughout our country’s history as abolitionists, civil rights leaders, suffragists, and labor activists. Women continue to lead as advocates for reproductive rights, champions of racial justice, and LGBTQI+ equality. Throughout history, these women have opened the doors of opportunity for subsequent generations of dreamers and doers. As community leaders, educators, doctors, scientists, child care providers, and more, women power our economy and lead our Nation. As first responders and service members, they stand watch over our lives and liberties. As innovators, entrepreneurs, and essential workers in every industry, they represent the very best of America.
But despite significant progress, women and girls continue to face systemic barriers to full and equal participation in our economy and society. Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, stripping away a constitutional right from the American people and the ability of millions of women to make decisions about their own bodies, putting their health and lives at risk. Disparities persist in economic security, health care, and caregiving responsibilities, especially for women and girls of color. Those who perform critical work, including those who care for our children and our families, are too often overlooked, underpaid, and undervalued.
Ours is the only Nation in the world established upon a profound but simple idea—that all people are created equal. My Administration is committed to upholding that idea and to making its promise real for
My Administration will continue to defend reproductive freedom to ensure that all Americans—regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, or income—have the ability to make the choices that are right for themselves and their families. I have taken executive action to safeguard access to reproductive care, including medication abortion, help ensure women can receive emergency medical care, protect patients’ privacy and access to accurate information about their reproductive rights, and combat discrimination in the health care system. I continue to call on the Congress to pass a Federal law restoring the protections of Roe v. Wade so all women in every State have the right to choose. And my Administration released the first Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis to save lives and address systemic discrimination that many women face every day in our health care system, including women of color, women in rural communities, and women with disabilities.
Leading our efforts is the most diverse group of women at the highest levels of Government in United States history, including Vice President Kamala Harris and a record number of female cabinet secretaries. Together with the most diverse set of judges ever nominated to the Federal bench—including Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson—women are seated at every table where decisions are being made.
This month, as we continue our work to advance gender equity and equality, let us celebrate the contributions of women throughout our history and honor the stories that have too often gone untold. Let us recognize that fundamental freedoms are interconnected: when opportunities for women are withheld, we all suffer; and when women’s lives are improved, we all gain. Let us strive to create a Nation where every woman and girl knows that her possibilities know no bounds in America.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2023 as Women’s History Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month and to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023, with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. I also invite all Americans to visit WomensHistoryMonth.gov to learn more about the vital contribution of women to our Nation’s history.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of February, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Read Across America Day, our Nation recognizes the value of literacy to our democracy. We celebrate the books that inspire our children to dream big, expand the limits of their understanding, and explore diverse perspectives and cultures through the eyes of others. We also honor educators, parents, librarians, authors, mentors, and everyone who fosters the power of reading to open doors of opportunity and build greater awareness about the complex world around us.
“The more that you read,”; Dr. Seuss wrote, “the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”; In other words, knowledge is power. Books impart lessons that enrich our lives, stimulate our curiosity, promote contemplation and reflection, and affirm the myriad possibilities available to every person. Reading transports kids to unique places where they can embrace unfamiliar ideas, develop their own intellect, and spark creativity in their lives. Our children are the kite strings that lift our national ambitions, and inspiring them to read is essential to America’s future.
Unfortunately, not all children have the same access to empowering books, dynamic instruction, or environments that foster curiosity. Learning disruptions during the COVID–19 pandemic led many American children to miss reading benchmarks—particularly in historically underserved communities.
My Administration is committed to improving literacy across America and supporting the devoted educators on the frontlines of this work. That is why our American Rescue Plan invested a historic $122 billion to help schools reopen safely, promote academic recovery, increase teacher pay, enhance mental health services, and expand afterschool and summer programs. Since I took office, public schools have hired 457,000 educators and staff, including reading specialists, and we continue to take steps to strengthen the teacher pipeline across the country. Meanwhile, my goal is to make 2 years of high-quality preschool available to every child in America. Research shows that children who start school at 3 and 4 years old are far more likely to graduate from high school and continue their education. My Administration is also promoting adult literacy through our Adult Education State grants, which support programs that help adults become better readers, obtain a secondary school diploma, transition to postsecondary education and training, and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for employment and self-sufficiency.
In the words of the First Lady, a lifelong English teacher, “loving to read means loving to learn.”; On Read Across America Day and every day, let us nurture our children with the resources and support they need to become proficient and passionate readers. Let us make books accessible, reading fun, and education meaningful. Let us continue striving to put the next generation of Americans on a path of lifelong learning and limitless possibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 2, 2023, as Read Across America Day. I call upon children, families, educators, librarians, public officials, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Families deserve to be protected from the fraudsters and scammers who often prey on the most vulnerable among us, draining real money from the pockets of hard-working Americans. This National Consumer Protection Week, we urge every American to learn about their legal rights as consumers and the resources available to defend those rights. Consumer protection is critical to building a healthy economy from the bottom up and middle out, and it is a question of basic fairness and justice.
After a few tough years, America is in the midst of a historic economic recovery—growth is up, wages are up, and unemployment is at a 50-year low. Manufacturing is booming, and more than 10 million Americans have applied to start their own businesses—the most in any 2 years on record. As people finally start to feel like they have a little bit of breathing room, we cannot let fraud, cybercrimes, or unfair business practices interrupt the progress we have made.
My Administration is taking historic action to make sure that when American consumers enter the marketplace, they get fair deals from honest brokers. Shortly after I took office, I signed an Executive Order to promote fair competition across our economy—because when companies have to compete on a fair, transparent playing field, it lowers prices for consumers, raises wages for workers, and makes our whole country more innovative and productive. The Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have undertaken efforts to address anticompetitive conduct that hurts consumers and workers, including preventing further consolidation in the shipping and pub
As I said in my State of the Union Address, we are cracking down on those unfair, hidden “junk fees”; like bank overdraft charges, cell phone cancellation fees, or surprise ticketing costs that sneak up on consumers, hiding the full price of what they are buying or making it much too hard to switch to a cheaper product. For example, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) finalized rules that would require cable and internet providers to list fees and services up front, on clear, easy-to-read labels. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is pressing banks and credit card companies to get rid of surprise overdraft charges, bounced-check charges, and unfair late fees. The CFPB has also proposed new rules to cut excessive credit card late fees from roughly $30 to $8. The Department of Transportation helped convince major airlines to rebook trips for free if they cancel a flight and issued a notice encouraging airlines to seat children next to an accompanying adult at no additional cost. And the FTC has pushed electronics makers to let consumers choose where to get their products fixed, saving on repair costs. These things matter—they add up fast, and when we act together, American consumers will save billions of dollars every year.
Meanwhile, the FTC is going after student loan scams, mortgage scams, price gouging, and identity theft and is working with law enforcement to crack down on other predatory practices. The FCC is working to stop today’s scourge of illegal robocalls by sharing call-blocking tools and working to reduce spoofing by requiring phone companies to implement caller ID authentication.
To protect online privacy, the FTC is considering new rules that would limit how much personal data companies can collect from consumers and sell to third parties. The CFPB is also considering a rule to give consumers more control over their personal financial data, which in turn gives them more freedom over where they choose to put their money.
Every American has the power to stand up for their own consumer rights and to help protect their communities and loved ones. We urge everyone to visit consumer.ftc.gov to learn more about today’s risks and the resources available for fighting them and to report any suspected fraud. To report issues with a consumer financial product, like aggressive debt collection, inaccurate credit reporting, or unfair medical billing, visit consumerfinance.gov/complaint.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 5, 2023, through March 11, 2023, as National Consumer Protection Week. I call upon government officials, industry leaders, and advocates across the Nation to share information about consumer protection and provide our citizens with information about their rights as consumers.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of
Despite historic growth, rising wages, and unemployment at a near record low, women working full-time, year-round are paid an average 84 cents for every dollar paid to men. Pay disparities are even more pronounced for Black women, Native American women, Latinas, many Asian American women, and women with disabilities. On Equal Pay Day, we call attention to this injustice and the pay disparities that add up to hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost income over a lifetime, undermining financial security for women and families across our Nation. My Administration is working to change that.
Discrimination accounts for some of the pay gap. In nearly every job—90 percent of occupations, from retail to business to professional sports—women are still paid, on average, less than men. They can be the very best at what they do but still have to fight for equal pay. The pay gap also stems from women’s disproportionate caregiving responsibilities for children and aging loved ones, which can force them to forgo job opportunities, reduce their work hours, or leave the workforce at times. And part of it is due to the fact that women are underrepresented in careers that offer good pay and benefits, while fields where they are overrepresented, like teaching and nursing, do not pay what they should, despite being critical to our communities and economy.
To right that wrong and truly level the playing field, we need to not only crack down on discrimination but also address the systemic issues behind the pay gap. My Administration has been laser-focused on rooting out pay inequity and dismantling the barriers that women face in the workplace and across our economy. When COVID–19 forced millions of women out of the workforce, often to care for their families at home, women’s labor participation fell to its lowest level in 35 years. But we sent billions in direct stimulus relief to families to help make ends meet. We provided another $24 billion in funds to stabilize child care providers, supporting working parents. Today, millions of American women are back at work—and a record 12 million jobs have been created since I took office, with many more to come in good-paying clean energy and semiconductor careers of the future. And we are working to ensure that those workers who will power our economy for years to come have access to child care, giving women more opportunities to succeed.
Meanwhile, I took executive action to raise the minimum wage that Federal contractors are required to pay their workers, directly benefiting tens of thousands of women. I also issued Executive Orders to consider the use of salary history in pay-setting decisions for Federal
We have used the power of our example and put women at the head of the table across the highest levels of Government—from the Vice Presidency, to the Supreme Court, to the most diverse Cabinet in our history, which is the first ever to have equal numbers of women and men. Doing so sets expectations for women leaders across the country and in every workplace and shows our daughters and granddaughters that there is nothing a man can do that a woman cannot do.
But we clearly still have a long way to go. To tackle pay discrimination head-on, I continue to urge the Congress to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would increase transparency, making it harder for employers to justify disparities and easier for workers to hold them accountable. Information is power, and people need to know if they are being unfairly paid. We also have to get more families the support needed for both women and men to lead full careers—including paid family and medical leave and affordable child, elder, and home care so no one in this country is ever again forced to choose between the job they need and the family they love.
I have often said that a job is about more than a paycheck—it is about dignity and respect. It is about honoring the basic bargain that when you work hard in this country, you get ahead. Equal pay is about justice and fairness and living up to our values and who we are as a Nation. Together, we have to make sure that our daughters have the same rights and opportunities as our sons.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 14, 2023, as National Equal Pay Day. I call upon all Americans to recognize the full value of women’s skills and their significant contributions to the labor force, acknowledge the injustice of wage inequality, and join efforts to achieve equal pay.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Each year, Americans report more than 2 million poisoning cases and tens of thousands of children are treated for poisoning in emergency rooms after accidentally ingesting dangerous household chemicals. For survivors and their families, the experience can be traumatizing and recovery can be long and difficult. During National Poison Prevention Week, we urge every American to take careful steps to keep their loved ones safe, and we thank the poison control centers across the country that stand guard, providing lifesaving advice and care around the clock.
The Congress has worked for decades to protect Americans from poisonous household products, and President John F. Kennedy issued the first Presidential Proclamation calling out this threat in 1962. Today, that work continues. Most poisoning cases are accidental and preventable, often involving children who mistakenly ingest medicines, batteries, dangerous chemicals found in household cleaning items, hand sanitizers, or even the liquid nicotine used in e-cigarettes.
It is essential to store harmful products in child-resistant packaging, throw away unfinished medicines, and keep other potential poisons out of the sight and reach of small children. That is why, last year, I signed a new law to improve child-resistant closures on consumer products that use small batteries. And we need to encourage older Americans to clearly label their medications or keep them in their original packaging to avoid dangerous mix-ups.
We cannot ignore the equally important fact that Americans are being poisoned by illegal synthetic opioids, including highly toxic fentanyl, sometimes even on their first use. More than 107,000 Americans lost their lives to a drug overdose or poisoning in 2021. My National Drug Control Strategy takes aggressive action to disrupt supply and to expand access to lifesaving naloxone, treatments, and recovery services while also investing in prevention.
Anyone who thinks that someone, including themselves, has been poisoned should immediately call the National Poison Control help line at 800–222–1222 to be connected to a local poison control center. Trained experts, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, are ready to offer real-time help and can often solve a poisoning emergency over the phone. Learn more about their lifesaving services at poisonhelp.hrsa.gov.
To encourage Americans to learn more about the dangers of unintentional poisonings and to take appropriate preventive measures, on September 26, 1961, the United States Congress, by joint resolution (75 Stat. 681), authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of March each year as “National Poison Prevention Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim March 19 through March 25, 2023, to be National Poison Prevention Week. I call upon all Ameri
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
American farms remind us of the beauty and generosity of our Nation. They feed the country and the world, and with each new planting season, they embody that most American of things—possibilities. On National Agriculture Day, we celebrate all the farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, fishers, foresters, and other agricultural workers who do so much to make our Nation strong, fuel our economy, and steward our lands. America owes them.
There is a common spirit across America’s agricultural community: a respect for tradition, a drive to innovate, and a commitment to never giving up—even when the going gets tough. Small farmers, ranchers, and meat processors also face many challenges. Extreme weather, made worse by the climate crisis, is destroying crops and decimating herds. Markets for seeds, feed, and fertilizer are dominated by a few large companies, raising the cost of doing business. Corporate consolidation has reduced what small producers can get in exchange for their crops and livestock, lowering farmer incomes and workers’ paychecks. Too many feel forced to give up farms that their families spent generations growing. A lack of competition has distorted the market.
I have often said that capitalism without competition is not capitalism—it is exploitation. My Administration is working to promote fair competition across our economy, including in agriculture. We are encouraging antitrust agencies to focus on anti-competitive practices in agricultural markets. We are working to secure the so-called “right to repair”; so farmers can fix their own machinery and tractors, rather than being required to send them back to the manufacturer. We are making it easier for farmers to bring claims against exploitative poultry processors, and the American Rescue Plan has invested $1 billion to help smaller meat processors expand operations.
To ease rising costs, we are also investing $500 million in domestic independent fertilizer production and expanding crop insurance to support more farmers who are willing to risk double cropping. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is rebuilding roads, bridges, railways, and ports and is expanding broadband, particularly in rural areas, which will transform supply chains. The Inflation Reduction Act is investing a historic $40 billion in climate-smart agriculture and other programs
We will also keep fighting for the farm and food workers who form the backbone of our economy, working with unions to improve workforce training and workplace safety—whether on farms and ranches, at processing or packing plants, or in delivery and food preparation. Every worker is entitled to fair pay, safe conditions, and the free and fair choice to join a union. That includes the large portion of agricultural workers who are undocumented, many of whom have built lives and worked here for decades. In return for all that they have done to keep America running, undocumented farmworkers should have a pathway to citizenship. Our economy needs them, and they deserve dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 21, 2023, as National Agriculture Day. I call upon all Americans to join me in recognizing and reaffirming our commitment to and appreciation for our country’s farmers, farmworkers, ranchers, fishers, foresters, and all those who work in the agriculture sector across the Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Yuman Tribes tell that creation began at a towering mountain in the southernmost reaches of Nevada at the confluence of the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. The Mojave people call this mountain Avi Kwa Ame, or Spirit Mountain. The mountain and the surrounding arid valleys and mountain ranges are among the most sacred places for the Mojave, Chemehuevi, and some Southern Paiute people, and are also significant to other Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples, including the Cocopah, Halchidhoma, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Kumeyaay, Maricopa, Pai Pai, Quechan, Yavapai, and Zuni. These Tribal Nations have been here since time immemorial, and the area contains evidence of human occupancy reaching back more than 10,000 years. Tribal members still sing songs, passed from generation to generation throughout their history, that tell the stories of travel and connection to the springs, peaks, and valleys in alignment with the migration patterns of game species, the availability of water, and the life cycles of the plants they have continually harvested.
For the Tribal Nations that trace their creation to Avi Kwa Ame, the power and significance of this place reside not just in the mountain itself, but radiate across the valleys and mountain ranges of the surrounding desert landscape containing the landmarks and spiritually important locations that are linked by oral traditions and beliefs. Tribal Nations have shared those traditions and beliefs across many generations through Salt Songs, Bird Songs, and other origin songs, which are central to Tribal members’ knowledge of the landscape, enabling them to navigate across the diverse terrain, find essential resources, and perform healing, funeral, and other rituals. These traditional and place-based songs connect Tribal members to their homelands, allowing for profound relationships with Avi Kwa Ame and its surroundings and providing healing and spiritual connections even if they are far from home.
The presence of Avi Kwa Ame—which has been designated as a Tribal cultural property and listed on the National Register of Historic Places—in the eastern portion of the area provides a distinctive lens through which members of Tribal Nations experience these sacred lands, the plants and animals found there, and their spiritual traditions. In these traditions, power emanates from the mountain itself, creating spiritual and visual connections throughout the landscape.
The Avi Kwa Ame landscape includes the McCullough and Lucy Gray Mountains in the west; the Piute and Eldorado Valleys, split by the Highland Mountains, in the center; the Castle and Dead Mountains in the south; and the Eldorado Mountains and the monument namesake, Avi Kwa Ame, part of the Newberry Mountains, in the east. This entire landscape is an object of historic and scientific interest requiring protection under section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (the “Antiquities Act”;). The landscape as a whole is significant and unique, providing context for each of its constituent parts, which are themselves objects warranting protection. As well as being an object itself, the landscape contains innumerable individual geologic features, archaeological sites, and havens for sensitive and threatened species—including the Mojave desert tortoise, Gila monster, and desert bighorn sheep—and it provides habitat for centuries-old Joshua trees and other objects that are independently of historic or scientific interest and require protection under the Antiquities Act. Some of the objects are also sacred to Tribal Nations; are sensitive, rare, or vulnerable to vandalism and theft; or are dangerous to visit and, therefore, revealing their specific names and locations could pose a danger to the objects or the public.
People have lived, traveled, and worked in this landscape for more than 10,000 years. Across the Avi Kwa Ame landscape, projectile points and pictographs give testament to Indigenous peoples’ hunting activities, while groundstone artifacts, milling artifacts, and ancient quarries demonstrate how tools were created and used to find, extract, and process both plant and mineral resources. Fluted projectile points, which are some of the earliest stone tool technologies in North America and rarely recorded in southern Nevada, have been found in the McCullough Mountains and nearby areas. Numerous rockshelters can be found amid the cliffs that surround these valleys, where ancestral Indigenous peoples camped or lived. Pottery fragments as old as 1,500 years, found near some of these rockshelters, are believed to have been used either in more stable settlements or camps or for safely trans
Many of the plant and animal species that live in this landscape have spiritual, cultural, or medicinal value to Indigenous peoples. Traditional hunting of bighorn sheep in the mountainous areas of southern Nevada remains culturally important for some Tribal Nations today. For centuries, people have gathered piñon nuts in the ridges of the McCullough, Newberry, and New York Mountains. The McCullough Mountains contain rockshelters, lithic scatters, artifact scatters, petroglyphs, pine nut caches, a trail, and a residential camp; these places were likely used for winter camps that allowed Indigenous peoples to hunt and collect piñon nuts. To the north, the Highland Mountains hold evidence of many residential camps, quarries, and rockshelters, as well as petroglyphs depicting resources in the area, such as acorns, large game, and water. One rockshelter in the Highland Mountains is particularly unique in that it contains hundreds of well-preserved, otherwise perishable objects, including some likely used for capturing small game. To the northeast, the Eldorado Mountains feature petroglyphs likely inscribed by members of the Fort Mojave Tribe and pictographs that likely were used to provide direction and facilitate travel as people migrated or searched for resources, while the Newberry Mountains in the south contain evidence of quarrying and rockshelters. Ancient Indigenous peoples visited the Castle and New York Mountains to obtain stone such as obsidian for tools, leaving behind petroglyphs and other evidence of their presence. Hiko Spring and the adjacent canyon contain numerous Indigenous petroglyphs along with etchings made by Euro-American settlers as far back as the late 19th century. Rockshelters are also found in the Newberry Mountains, and canyons in the area, including Grapevine Canyon and Sacatone Wash, contain petroglyphs that mark the presence of Indigenous peoples for millennia. The cliffs above Bridge Canyon contain constructed rock walls that continue to be studied to determine their origin and purpose.
The Avi Kwa Ame area’s rugged geology, which is unlike the rest of southern Nevada, tells the story of a landscape dramatically changed by its volcanic history, which has sparked the imaginations of geologists for more than 150 years. Each mountain range—the Highland, Castle, Eldorado, Newberry, Lucy Gray, McCullough, and New York Mountains—has long served as a distinct and important scientific resource to geologists. The plutons, intrusive dikes, and other igneous formations in these ranges have provided particularly important insights into the study of volcanism during the Tertiary period, especially the Miocene epoch.
The Avi Kwa Ame area’s desert location and geography also allow for a soundscape that is among the most naturally quiet in the United States. Additionally, the area’s exceptional dark skies, rare in highly populated Clark County, have been noted for the excellent stargazing opportunities they offer and for benefits to migratory birds.
The Lucy Gray Mountains, captured within the western border of the area, include incised drainages within rounded igneous boulder fields and isolated springs that support an important migration route for desert bighorn sheep. Rising between the flat expanses of the Ivanpah and Piute Valleys, this range represents an important area for igneous geology and soils research related to volcanism and tectonism.
To the northwest, the McCullough Mountains are characterized by an undulating crest flanked by rocky outcrops and cliffs, punctuated by black basalt and springs. For millennia, Indigenous peoples have sought refuge in the higher elevations that provide respite from the heat of the valley floor; sustenance in the form of piñon nuts and game for hunting; and water and shelter. The ancient Precambrian rock and its desert vegetation—ranging from creosote in the low elevation, to blackbrush and Joshua trees in the middle elevations, to old-growth piñon and juniper in the peaks—provide habitat for desert bighorn sheep and many other animal species.
Running north-south through the center of the landscape, the Highland Mountains contain distinctive large, tilted, colorful igneous and sedimentary rocks and stark cliffs of exposed Precambrian rock. These mountains provide a vital home to a small remnant herd of desert bighorn sheep that survived when most other sheep populations in Nevada were lost to drought, human encroachment, disease, and other environmental pressures. Indigenous peoples camped and hunted in these mountains, and ancient rockshelters and petroglyphs are found throughout the range. Igneous features in the area have also been the subject of decades of geological study by researchers seeking to enhance understanding of ancient volcanic activity.
The low-lying Piute and Eldorado Valleys run through the center of the Avi Kwa Ame area. These valleys contain spiritual pathways and trails that emanate from Avi Kwa Ame that have been followed by Yuman peoples for generations and continue to be significant to Tribal Nations today. Characterized by Mojave Desert vegetation, these valleys provide core habitat for the ancient and threatened Mojave desert tortoise. To the southwest, the Castle Mountains extend from within the Avi Kwa Ame area across the border into California, providing important connectivity for bighorn sheep migrating between southern Nevada and protected lands within California.
In the northeast corner lie the Eldorado Mountains, formed of Precambrian rock and containing sharp ridges with narrow, deep canyons extending to the east that fade into bajadas on the western slope. The highest of these mountains, Ireteba Peak, is named after Irataba, a Mojave Tribal leader of the mid-1800s. Water is scarce here and summer temperatures exceed 120 degrees Fahrenheit, yet the area contains evidence of longstanding human activity, including petroglyphs and pictographs, as well as historic mine sites.
The turbulent geologic past of the Avi Kwa Ame area has sculpted a landscape of steep cliffs, rolling foothills and bajadas, and arid valleys with limited water. Precambrian schist, gneiss, and granite can be found on the west side of the Eldorado Mountains and McCullough Mountains and in the Eldorado Valley, as well as in the Nellis Wash area. The Piute and Eldorado Valleys and the mountains surrounding them have long been a focus for studies of groundwater, geology, allu
Among the quartzite cliffs and felsic plutonic rock of the Newberry Mountains, which form part of the eastern boundary of the Avi Kwa Ame area, stands Spirit Mountain, the highest peak within the range. Avi Kwa Ame has been studied extensively by geologists researching the processes that cause the formation of geologic features, such as dikes and batholiths, as well as the development of new methods for geochronology. The mountain’s geology features Precambrian rocks in the north and white and pink granitic spires in the south. Avi Kwa Ame and the surrounding Newberry Mountains are foundational in the creation stories of the Mojave, Pai Pai, Cocopah, Kumeyaay, Havasupai, Maricopa, Hualapai, Yavapai, Quechan, and Halchidhoma and are recognized by many Tribes as a place of great spiritual importance. In the foothills of the Newberry Mountains, Hiko Spring Canyon contains the year-round Hiko Spring, an area that has been used by humans for hundreds if not thousands of years, evinced by a collection of petroglyphs depicting bighorn sheep, handprints, and other geometric shapes, as well as historic rock carvings.
Many of the features that made this landscape accessible to Indigenous peoples were also used by Euro-American settlers and traders. Early expeditions of fur traders, miners, and the military passed through the southern part of the Avi Kwa Ame landscape, often following the Mojave Trail, which is still visible today. The trail is part of a network of ancient trails used by Indigenous peoples to safely traverse the harsh and unforgiving Mojave Desert. The easternmost miles of the Mojave Trail in Nevada pass by Granite Springs in the far southeastern corner of the Avi Kwa Ame area. The springs were the first stop on the Mojave Trail for ancient Indigenous peoples heading west from the Colorado River and have provided life-sustaining water to many generations of travelers. The area contains petroglyphs and rockshelters and holds historic and cultural significance for Tribal Nations.
In 1826, Jedediah Smith led a fur trapping expedition on a segment of the Old Spanish National Historic Trail, subsequently labeled the Mojave Road, which was the first use by traders of European descent. The Mojave Road, which bisects the Avi Kwa Ame landscape, continued to be used by traders and settlers traveling between New Mexico and California throughout the 19th century. To the east, within Grapevine Canyon in the Bridge Canyon Wilderness, evidence of 19th century mining roads from the Searchlight District remains on the landscape, as do traces of the Quartette Railroad, which the Quartette Mining Company operated in the early 1900s between Searchlight and the Colorado River. The New York Mountains and Piute Valley were also later used for military training exercises for armored vehicles as part of the Desert Training Center during World War II and during the Cold War, including some under the command of General George S. Patton. Additionally, in the Chiquita Hills area, there is evidence of training operations, including foxholes, rock walls, and gun turrets.
While there is evidence of Indigenous mining in the area going back hundreds of years, the 1890s saw settlers of European descent in the area discover a number of valuable mineral deposits, including turquoise, gold, silver, copper, lead, and molybdenum, which gave rise to a number of mining districts that are replete with evidence of the landscape’s mining history. Southwest of the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wil
Piute Valley also contains the historic Walking Box Ranch site, which is known for its significance in the history of cattle ranching, mining, entertainment, and politics in southern Nevada. The ranch, initially part of vast holdings grazed by historic Rock Springs Land and Cattle Company in the 19th century, was sold off in the 1920s and was purchased by Hollywood silent film stars Clara Bow and Rex Bell in 1931. The couple operated the ranch together for over a decade as a functioning cattle ranch and occasional vacation retreat for their Hollywood friends. Among the dignitaries hosted by the Bells were General Patton and some of his troops while they were training in the area during World War II. Later, Bell went into politics and served as Nevada’s Lieutenant Governor. The United States acquired the property in 2005, and the entire ranch, including the main house, outbuildings and related structures, and associated landscape features, is considered architecturally significant as a well-maintained example of cattle ranch property of the Southwest. Of particular interest are the main house, which features Spanish Colonial Revival architecture, and the barn and elements of the corrals, which provide preserved examples of railroad tie construction.
The rich human history revealed by the Avi Kwa Ame area coexists with the area’s scientifically significant biological diversity, rare plants and animals, and ecology. As a whole and across a broad range of taxa, the Avi Kwa Ame area has been noted for providing ecological and habitat connectivity for a wide range of species, offering great potential for scientific studies of plants, animals, and ecosystems. Situated where the Mojave and Sonoran Desert ecosystems converge, and incorporating a wide elevation gradient that supports a broad range of ecosystems, the area both provides homes to a diverse range of species and communities and offers tremendous potential to support adaptation to climate change.
The bajadas and rolling valleys of the Avi Kwa Ame area support plant communities ranging from creosote-bursage scrub, shadscale scrub, and blackbrush to piñon-juniper woodland. The area showcases the transition between the vegetation of the Sonoran and Mojave Deserts, creating unique assemblages of species that do not typically occupy the same ecosystems and as a result are of interest to ecologists, climate scientists, and biologists. Biological soil crusts, desert pavement, and bedrock cliffs and outcrops support unique soil environments and can be found throughout the Avi Kwa Ame area. The Eldorado Valley and Lucy Gray Mountains in particular are of interest to biologists who study biological soil crusts. Nearly the entire area has been classified as an Ecologically Core or Ecologically Intact portion of the Mojave Desert region. Sites spanning a vegetation gradient in the Newberry Mountains provide data for botanists and climate scientists to study changes in climate, land use, and vegetation, and to understand paleoclimate, climate and vegetation change, and desert community ecology. The creosote-white bursage scrub community fills the valleys, plains, and bajadas at low elevations in the Avi Kwa Ame area. This plant community also supports four-winged saltbush and wolfberry. Dune-like sandy soils are home to creosote bush and big galetta grass, while the lowest elevations are spotted with Mojave yucca or Joshua trees. Catclaw acacia, honey mesquite, and sweetbush, rare in arid environments, can be found in washes. The area is also home to rare plants, including the yellow two-tone penstemon, two-toned beardtongue, rosy two-toned penstemon, and white-margined penstemon, as well as rare bryophytes such as American dry rock moss in Grapevine Canyon.
Joshua trees, found in both the Piute and Eldorado Valleys and west toward the Lucy Gray Mountains, are predicted to be negatively impacted by climate change because of their slow growth and weather-dependent reproduction, and the Piute Valley is scientifically important for studies of this fragile species. In the southwest portion of the area, along the California border from the New York Mountains to the Piute Valley, visitors find thriving forests, particularly around the portion of Highway 164 that runs from Searchlight to the California border. This portion of Highway 164 is known as “Joshua Tree Highway”; because of the unique density of these trees. Just north of the New York Mountains and Highway 164, the Wee Thump Joshua Tree Wilderness and surrounding area comprise a stunning, old-growth Joshua tree forest, home to Nevada’s largest known Joshua tree. The wilderness, named for the Paiute phrase for “ancient ones,”; contains trees up to 800 years old. Many bird species rely heavily on the nesting cavities the trees provide, and the Wee Thump area is both home to western bluebirds, northern flickers, hairy woodpeckers, and ash-throated flycatchers; and the location of Nevada’s only known sightings of the gilded flicker.
Dry slopes, ridges, and valley bottoms found across the Avi Kwa Ame landscape support shadscale scrub plant communities, featuring budsage, winterfat, rabbitbrush, big sagebrush, spiny hopsage, and black greasewood, along with native desert grasses such as bottlebrush squirreltail, Sandberg bluegrass, and Indian ricegrass, and flowering plants such as polished blazingstar. Middle-elevation slopes and upper bajadas are home to blackbrush scrub communities, which shade into piñon-juniper woodland in upper elevations. In the lower reaches of
Along with diverse plant communities, the Avi Kwa Ame landscape supports an array of desert wildlife, including many species that rely on the area’s natural springs and seeps. The Hiko, Piute, and Roman dry washes are internationally known for the important bird habitat they provide, including catclaw acacia, mesquite, cottonwood, desert willow, and sandbar willow that provide rare pockets of habitat for species distinct from those in the surrounding desert. Additionally, Phainopepla, a sensitive species that is the most northerly representative of silky flycatchers, use the trees for nesting and eat mistletoe seeds in these washes, making them uniquely important for this species in Nevada.
The landscape overall supports a broad array of bird species and has long been important for ornithologists. A diverse cadre of raptors, such as ferruginous hawk, bald eagle, golden eagle, burrowing owl, and peregrine falcon hunt their prey and nest, both above and below ground, in the stark landscape. Species of interest to both amateur and professional ornithologists make their homes here, including Gambel’s quail, sage thrasher, Bendire’s thrasher, Costa’s hummingbird, gilded flicker, rufous hummingbird, cactus wren, northern mockingbird, ash-throated flycatcher, American goldfinch, and potentially Yuma ridgeway’s rail.
A broad variety of desert mammal species also make their homes in the area, ranging from the tiny pocket gopher to large ungulates like mule deer, along with a diversity of predators including bobcats and ring-tailed cats. An incredible array of bat species, including 18 species that have been identified as at-risk by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), call the landscape home, including pollinators like the pallid bat, the rare spotted bat, and a diverse group of insectivorous bat species that roost in rock crevices, former mines, and other small spaces. The area provides important habitat and vital connectivity for the Nelson (desert) bighorn sheep. The Highland Range has been identified as crucial bighorn habitat, and bighorn sheep also traverse the ridges of the McCullough and Lucy Gray Mountains, the western slopes of the Newberry Mountains, and the Nellis Wash.
Among reptiles and amphibians, the area is most notable as habitat for the threatened Mojave desert tortoise. The elusive desert tortoise, with its long lifespan, low juvenile survival rate, and extreme capacity for conserving water, is a rare and incredible symbol of this challenging landscape. The Piute and Eldorado Valleys and other low-lying portions of the Avi Kwa Ame area, including Nellis Wash, have long been recognized as the highest priority for desert tortoise habitat conservation and restoration in southern Nevada; the connectivity and condition of the habitat as well as its location within critical habitat recovery units make this area uniquely suited to supporting tortoise conservation. The area is also critical to scientific studies of desert tortoise population biology, genetics, and ecology.
Many other reptile species rely on the area, including the elusive and beautiful banded Gila monster; the stocky, iguana-like chuckwalla; the western banded gecko; and the colorful Great Basin collared lizard. Species unique to and emblematic of the Mojave Desert, including the Mojave Desert sidewinder and Mojave shovel-nosed snake, make their homes here, along with the shimmering, nocturnal desert rosy boa, all of which are BLM sensitive species. Amphibians, which are rare in harsh desert environments, including the Arizona toad, also survive in this dry environment, and the red-spotted toad has been known to breed in Grapevine Canyon.
The flowering plants that survive despite the challenges of the sunbaked landscape, such as the brilliant fields of wildflowers in the Newberry Mountains, support and are supported by pollinators like the monarch butterfly, northern Mojave blue butterfly, MacNeill sooty wing skipper, and flat-faced cactus bee. The area also contains potential habitat for the endemic Mojave gypsum bee and Mojave poppy bee.
Protection of the Avi Kwa Ame area will preserve its diverse array of natural and scientific resources, ensuring that the cultural, prehistoric, historic, and scientific values of this area endure for the benefit of all Americans. The living landscape holds sites of historical, traditional, cultural, and spiritual significance; is the setting of the creation story of multiple Tribal Nations; and is inextricably intertwined with the sacred significance of Avi Kwa Ame. The area contains numerous objects of historic and scientific interest, and it provides world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking, camping, birdwatching, motorized touring, stargazing, hunting, and pursuing amateur geology, all of which support a growing travel and tourism economy in the region.
WHEREAS, the Antiquities Act authorizes the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected; and
WHEREAS, I find that each of the objects identified above, and objects of the type identified above within the area, are objects of historic or scientific interest in need of protection under 54 U.S.C. 320301, regardless of whether they are expressly identified as an object of historic or scientific interest in the text of this proclamation; and
WHEREAS, I find that the unique objects and resources within the Avi Kwa Ame landscape, in combination, make the landscape more than the mere sum of its parts, and the entire landscape within the boundaries reserved by this proclamation is an object of historic and scientific interest in need of protection under 54 U.S.C. 320301; and
WHEREAS, I find that there are threats to the objects identified in this proclamation, and in the absence of a reservation under the Antiquities Act, the objects identified in this proclamation are not adequately protected by applicable law or administrative designations, thus making a national monument designation and reservation necessary to protect the objects of historic and scientific interest in the Avi Kwa Ame landscape for current and future generations; and
WHEREAS, I find that the boundaries of the monument reserved by this proclamation represent the smallest area compatible with the protection of the objects of scientific or historic interest as required by the Antiquities Act; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to ensure the preservation, restoration, and protection of the objects of scientific and historic interest on the Avi Kwa Ame lands, including the entire monument landscape, reserved within the Avi Kwa Ame boundary;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified above that are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument (monument) and, for the purpose of protecting those objects, reserve as part thereof all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying map, which is attached hereto and forms a part of this proclamation. These reserved Federal lands and interests in lands encompass approximately 506,814 acres. Due to the distribution of the objects of the types identified in this proclamation across the Avi Kwa Ame landscape, and because the landscape itself is an object in need of protection, to confine the boundaries of the monument to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects of historic or scientific interest requires the reservation of the entire area described on the accompanying map.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws, from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing, other than by exchange that furthers the protective purposes of the monument.
This proclamation is subject to valid existing rights. If the Federal Government subsequently acquires any lands or interests in lands not owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying map, such lands and interests in lands shall be reserved as a part of the monument, and objects of the type identified above that are situated upon those lands and interests in lands shall be part of the monument, upon acquisition of ownership or control by the Federal Government.
The Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) shall manage the monument, pursuant to applicable legal authorities, through the BLM, as a unit of the National Landscape Conservation System, and through the National Park Service (NPS), in accordance with the terms, conditions, and management direction provided by this proclamation. The NPS and the BLM shall manage the monument cooperatively and shall prepare an agreement to share, consistent with applicable laws, whatever resources are necessary to properly manage the monument; however, the NPS shall continue to have primary management authority over the portion of the monument within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, and the BLM shall have primary management authority over the remaining portion of the monument. After issuance of this proclamation, the Secretary shall, consistent with applicable legal authorities,
For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified above, the Secretary shall prepare and maintain a monument management plan (management plan). In preparing the management plan, the Secretary shall take into account, to the maximum extent practicable, maintaining the undeveloped character of the lands within the monument, minimizing impacts from surface-disturbing activities, providing appropriate access for hunting and wildlife management, and emphasizing the retention of natural quiet, dark night skies, and visual resources. The Secretary shall provide for maximum public involvement in the development of the management plan, including consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations and State and local governments. In the development and implementation of the management plan, the Secretary shall maximize opportunities, pursuant to applicable legal authorities, for shared resources, operational efficiency, and cooperation.
The Secretary, through the BLM, shall establish and maintain an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) with the specific purpose of providing information and advice regarding the development of the management plan and management of the monument. This advisory committee shall consist of a fair and balanced representation of interested stakeholders. A majority of the membership shall be made up of members of Tribal Nations with a historical connection to the lands within the monument, with the remaining members representing local governmental entities, recreational users, conservation organizations, wildlife or hunting organizations, the scientific community, business owners, and local citizens.
In recognition of the importance of Tribal participation in the care and management of the objects identified above, and to ensure that management decisions affecting the monument are informed by and reflect Tribal expertise and Indigenous Knowledge, the Secretary shall meaningfully engage the Tribal Nations with historical and spiritual connections to the monument lands in the development of the management plan and management of the monument. The Secretary shall enter into a memorandum of understanding with interested Tribal Nations to set forth terms, pursuant to applicable laws, regulations, and policies, for co-stewardship of the monument.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the rights or jurisdiction of any Tribal Nation. The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law and in consultation with Tribal Nations, ensure the protection of sacred sites and cultural properties and sites in the monument and provide access to Tribal members for traditional cultural, spiritual, and customary uses, consistent with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996), Executive Order 13007 of May 24, 1996 (Indian Sacred Sites), and the November 10, 2021, Memorandum of Understanding Regarding Interagency Coordination and Collaboration for the Protection of Indigenous Sacred Sites. Such uses shall include collection of medicines, berries and other vegetation, forest products, and firewood for personal noncommercial use so long as each use is carried out in a manner consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above.
Livestock grazing has not been permitted in the monument area since 2006, and the Secretary shall not issue any new grazing permits or leases on such lands.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to preclude the renewal or assignment of, or interfere with the operation, maintenance, replacement, modification, upgrade, or access to, existing flood control, utility, pipeline, and telecommunications facilities; roads or highway corridors; seismic monitoring facilities; or other water infrastructure, including wildlife water developments or water district facilities, within or adjacent to an existing authorization boundary. Existing flood control, utility, pipeline, telecommunications, and seismic monitoring facilities, and other water infrastructure, including wildlife water developments or water district facilities, may be expanded, and new facilities of such kind may be constructed, to the extent consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above and subject to the Secretary’s authorities and other applicable law.
For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified above, the Secretary shall prepare a transportation plan that designates the roads and trails on which motorized and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use will be allowed. Except for emergency or authorized administrative purposes, including appropriate wildlife management, motorized vehicle use in the monument shall be permitted only on roads and trails documented as existing as of the date of this proclamation. Any additional roads or trails designated for motorized vehicle use must be designated only for the purposes of public safety needs or protection of the objects identified above. The Secretary shall monitor motorized and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use and designated roads and trails to ensure proper care and management of monument objects.
To further the protection of the monument, the Secretary shall evaluate opportunities to work with local communities to locate and develop a visitor center or other visitor information facilities to enhance public services and promote management efficiencies.
Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude low-level overflights of military aircraft, the designation of new units of special use airspace, or the use or establishment of military flight training routes over the lands reserved by this proclamation. Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude air or ground access to existing or new electronic tracking communications sites associated with the special use airspace and military training routes.
So long as carried out in a manner consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above, nothing in this proclamation shall preclude the safe and efficient operation of airplanes over the lands reserved by this proclamation.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Nevada (State), including its jurisdiction and authority with respect to fish and wildlife management, including hunting on Federal lands. The Secretary shall seek to continue collaborating with the State on wildlife management and shall expeditiously explore entering into a memorandum of understanding, or amending an existing memorandum of understanding, with the State to facilitate such collaboration.
Nothing in this proclamation alters, modifies, or amends the Clark County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan.
If any provision of this proclamation, including its application to a particular parcel of land, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and its application to other parcels of land shall not be affected thereby.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Each year, as winter gives way to spring, Mexican Gold Poppies burst into bloom, transforming the undeveloped desert plains and hills of Castner Range into a sea of vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds framed by the rugged mountains and azure blue sky. Visitors from across the
The Department of the Army acquired Castner Range in the 1920s and 1930s, and with the establishment of an Anti-Aircraft Training Center in 1940, Castner Range—and Fort Bliss more broadly—became the largest overland air defense missile range and training center in the world. In 1945, Fort Bliss became home to the 1st Anti-aircraft Guided Missile Battalion, the first missile battalion in Army history. In 1948, the Army established the 1st Guided Missile Regiment at Fort Bliss, which later became the 1st Guided Missile Brigade. This unique component trained at Castner Range and provided skills to the Army as it transitioned into the era of modern guided-missile warfare. In the 1960s, a training area known as the “Vietnam Village”; was constructed and used for close combat exercises, but military training on Castner Range largely ended in 1966. As a result of the cessation of military activities, much of this rugged landscape has since been reclaimed by nature.
Archeologists have identified 41 archeological sites within Castner Range despite access restrictions due to remaining munitions in the area. Some of these sites are culturally important to Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples—including Apache and Pueblo peoples and the Comanche Nation, Hopi Tribe, and Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma—and provide evidence of Indigenous Peoples’ presence in the area from at least 6,000 B.C. Three of those sites—the Fusselman Canyon Rock Art District, the Northgate Site, and the Castner Range Archeological District—are listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Within Castner Range, there is a site that contains rock art from around 1350 A.D. depicting animal footprints, geometric designs, a human handprint, and a bird’s head. Pottery and arrow shaft straighteners have also been found in the area. Another site includes several rock shelters, a shallow cave, bedrock mortars, and rock art, which is visible on the overhangs and undersides of fallen and stacked granitic boulders. Similarities between the rock art in this area and rock art found
The area also contains the World War II-era Anti-Mechanized Target Firing Range, which was built by the Army in 1940 and is eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places due to its significance to military history. This firing range was used as a high-speed anti-tank weapons training course to provide soldiers with essential training in preparation for combat in World War II. Today the foundations and other remnants stand as a physical reminder of this pivotal moment in world history.
Evidence of mining that occurred before the Army’s acquisition of Castner Range can be found at the El Paso Tin Mine site, which is also eligible for listing in the National Register of Historical Places and contains the remains of a tin mine briefly in operation at the turn of the 20th Century. As World War II drove a surge in the demand for tin, the mine reopened briefly in 1942, but the lack of abundant tin caused the mine to close again shortly thereafter.
Although completely contained within the city limits of El Paso, Castner Range is undeveloped due to its history of military use and, following the cessation of live fire exercises more than half a century ago, Castner Range has reverted to a state that is representative of the natural Chihuahuan ecosystem of the region. Indian Springs, Cottonwood Springs, Mundy Springs, and Whispering Springs provide sources of water and rare habitat for wildlife in this harsh desert ecosystem. The area also provides habitat for a large and diverse array of Chihuahuan Desert plants, birds, and mammals. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service has indicated that habitat is likely to exist for the American peregrine falcon, Mountain plover, Golden eagle, Texas horned lizard, black-tailed prairie dog, Baird’s sparrow, Western burrowing owl, Franklin Mountains talussnail, Alamo beard tongue, Sand prickly pear, Desert night-blooming cereus, and the endangered Sneed pincushion cactus. Golden eagles and Western burrowing owls, for example, have been observed at Castner Range.
Castner Range also contains undeveloped geological resources. The Franklin Mountains and various landslide blocks along the eastern front of the mountains define the topography of the highest elevations of Castner Range. Over time, erosional events exposing the Red Bluff Granite followed by the deposition of the Bliss Sandstone have resulted in a geologic feature known as an unconformity. The Castner Limestone formation of the mid-elevation foothills is the oldest rock in the El Paso area and contains abundant, well-preserved, and ancient Precambrian fossilized algae. Two specimens were closely examined in 1958 and were identified as Oollenia frequens. It is expected that future research will identify other specimens once access becomes pos
WHEREAS, section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (the “Antiquities Act”;), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected; and
WHEREAS, I find that Castner Range contains significant archeological and paleontological resources, rare and fragile biological and ecological resources, and unique geological features that are of scientific interest; and
WHEREAS, I find that Castner Range contains sites of cultural significance to Tribal Nations and Indigenous Peoples; and
WHEREAS, I find that Castner Range is an important part of the history of Native Americans and the United States military; and
WHEREAS, I find it is in the public interest to preserve and protect the objects of scientific and historic interest located within Castner Range; and
WHEREAS, I find that each of the objects identified above, and those of the same sort that may not be expressly identified in this proclamation, are objects of historic or scientific interest in need of protection under 54 U.S.C. 320301; and
WHEREAS, I find that there are threats to the objects identified in this proclamation and that a national monument reservation is necessary to protect the land along with its objects of historic and scientific interest within Castner Range for current and future generations; and
WHEREAS, I find that the boundaries of the monument reserved by this proclamation represent the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects of scientific or historic interest to be protected by the Antiquities Act;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified above that are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be the Castner Range National Monument (monument) and, for the purpose of protecting those objects, reserve as part thereof all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying map, which is attached hereto and forms a part of this proclamation. These reserved Federal lands and interests in lands encompass approximately 6,672 acres.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of
The Secretary of the Army (Secretary) shall manage the monument pursuant to applicable legal authorities, including section 2846 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2018, and in accordance with the terms, conditions, and management direction provided by this proclamation. The Secretary shall prepare, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, a management plan for the monument, which shall include access for outdoor recreational opportunities as well as historic and scientific research at a time and in a manner determined by the Secretary (considering ongoing and future remediation of hazardous substances or munitions, any needed controls to ensure explosives safety, and other limitations provided in law), consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above. The Secretary shall promulgate such regulations for management of the monument as the Secretary deems appropriate. The Secretary shall provide for maximum public involvement in the development of the management plan, including consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations, State and local governments, and interested stakeholders. The final decision over any management plan and regulations rests with the Secretary.
The Secretary shall expeditiously conduct military munitions response actions at Castner Range in accordance with the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9615 et seq.), and section 2846 of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2018, and shall conduct response actions in a phased manner that allows for public access to areas of the monument when and under the conditions necessary to protect human health and safety. Nothing in this proclamation shall affect the responsibilities and authorities of the Department of Defense under applicable environmental laws within the monument boundaries. Nothing in this proclamation shall affect the Secretary’s ability to authorize access to and remediation of contaminated lands within the monument.
The Secretary shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law and in consultation with Tribal Nations, ensure the protection of sacred sites and traditional cultural properties and sites in the monument and provide access to Tribal members for traditional cultural, spiritual and customary uses, consistent with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 42 U.S.C. 1996, and Executive Order 13007 of May 24, 1996 (Indian Sacred Sites). Such uses shall include allowing collection of medicines, berries and other vegetation, forest products, and firewood for personal non-commercial use in a manner consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified herein, and in consideration of the presence of military munitions and munitions constituents.
In recognition of the importance of these lands and objects to Tribal Nations, and to ensure that management decisions affecting the monument reflect Tribal expertise and Indigenous Knowledge, the Secretary shall meaningfully engage with Tribal Nations with cultural ties to the area to develop the management plan and to inform subsequent management of the monument.
The establishment of this monument is subject to valid existing rights, including valid water rights. Consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above, nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to preclude the renewal or assignment of, or interfere with the operation, maintenance, replacement, modification, or upgrade of, existing water infrastructure, including flood control, pipeline, or other water management infrastructure; State highway corridors rights-of-way; or existing utility and telecommunications rights-of-way or facilities within or adjacent to the boundaries of existing authorizations within the monument.
Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude low-level overflights of military aircraft, flight testing or evaluation, the designation of new units of special use airspace, or the use or establishment of military flight training routes or transportation over the lands reserved by this proclamation.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction of the State of Texas with respect to fish and wildlife management. Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the rights or jurisdiction of any Tribal Nation.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to alter the authority or responsibility of any party with respect to emergency response activities within the monument, including wildland fire response or search and rescue operations.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the national monument shall be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
If any provision of this proclamation, including application to a particular parcel of land, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and its application to other parcels of land shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Today, we honor the heroism of Greek revolutionaries who fought for their independence more than two centuries ago and celebrate the sa
The story of our shared values and common purpose reaches back to America’s founding, when ancient Athenian democracy helped inspire the Framers of our democracy to forge a new system of self-government. Just a few decades later, in 1821, when the courageous women and men of Greece rose up to declare their own independence from the Ottoman Empire, young patriots from the newly formed United States crossed the Atlantic to support the Greek fight for freedom. During World War II, Greeks and Americans joined together against the forces of fascism, understanding in their cores that democracy is worth the sacrifice.
Today, the alliance between Greece and the United States has never been stronger. Together, we are deepening our cooperation on climate and energy, trade and investment, pandemic response, disaster relief, and so much more to shape a healthier, more prosperous, and more just world. In the face of Russia’s brutal aggression against Ukraine, Greece has once more demonstrated its moral courage and its values—condemning Russia’s aggression and welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Every generation has to defeat democracy’s mortal foes, and together, we will continue to show the world that the darkness that drives autocracy can never extinguish the flames of liberty.
As Greece and the United States meet the future together, the ties of family and the contributions of Greek Americans continue to strengthen our partnership at every turn. Greek Americans are leaders in every industry and every community, helping build an economy that works for everyone and working toward greater social justice for all. I have been blessed with lifelong friendships and political mentors in the Greek American community, and I have seen firsthand how Greek culture and values enrich our American fabric.
This Greek Independence Day, as we mark 202 years of friendship between the modern Hellenic Republic and the United States, let us recommit to defending democracy together—standing up for the rights, equality, and dignity of all people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 25, 2023, as Greek Independence Day: A National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on March 27, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, March 31, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Today, we honor César E. Chávez by carrying on the cause—“La Causa”;—to which he dedicated his life: championing the dignity and rights of every worker, using nonviolence to fight for justice, and standing with organized labor to build an economy that rewards work and not just wealth.
César E. Chávez came of age picking produce and cotton in the fields of California. He labored in intense heat, all too familiar with the harms of poisonous pesticides. And he learned early on about the power of organizing for basic dignity and respect through his work with Fred Ross and the Community Service Organization. Working alongside trailblazing labor activist Dolores Huerta and inspired by heroes like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi, he founded the United Farm Workers of America in 1962. Over the following three decades, Chávez marched, fasted, and boycotted—campaigning for collective bargaining rights, a minimum wage, unemployment insurance, and better health and safety standards for his fellow workers. His courage opened America’s eyes to injustice and ushered in a new age of opportunity for farm workers and the working class.
On what would be his 96th birthday, Chávez’s life and legacy as a leader of the labor and civil rights movements continue to guide our efforts to grow our economy from the bottom up and the middle out—fighting every day for America’s working class. My Administration is creating good-paying jobs, protecting the retirement savings of millions of union workers, pushing to ban unfair non-compete agreements, and strengthening workers’ rights to organize. Since I took office, the Department of Labor has recovered $16.3 million in back pay and damages—compensation employers owed to their employees—for nearly 20,000 farmworkers. This hard-earned money can mean a worker’s ability to pay rent, buy groceries, or save for their children’s futures.
The Department of Labor is also working on new rules to protect workers from extreme heat in the workplace, and it is conducting inspections in industries with high incidences of heat-related illnesses or deaths. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture has provided hundreds of millions of dollars in financial assistance to farmworkers and meatpacking workers for expenses incurred due to the COVID–19 pandemic. It has also helped agricultural employers to implement more robust health and safety standards.
There is more work to do. That is why I continue to call for paid sick leave for every worker in America; for stronger organizing and collective bargaining rights; and for better conditions for people who work on farms, on ranches, and across the food and agricultural industry. I encourage the Congress to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize Act. I also encourage the Congress to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act to create a pathway to citizenship for farmworkers, who put food on our tables and sustain our Nation.
This César Chávez Day, as we celebrate an American hero, let us be united in our efforts to stand up for the dignity and rights of all workers. I proudly keep a bust of César E. Chávez in the Oval Office, which reminds me daily of my commitment to the Latino community and to the American people. The First Lady has honored his legacy with the Chávez family in Keene and Delano, California, home of Chávez’s movement. I want to ensure the American Dream is within reach of all who live in our Nation, not just because it is right for our economy, but because it is the right thing to do for humanity. In Chávez’s own words, “The love for justice that is in us is not only the best part of our being, but it is also the most true to our nature.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2023, as César Chávez Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day as a day of service and learning, with appropriate service, community, and education programs to honor César E. Chávez’s enduring legacy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Transgender Day of Visibility celebrates the joy, strength, and absolute courage of some of the bravest people I know—people who have too often had to put their jobs, relationships, and lives on the line just to be their true selves. Today, we show millions of transgender and nonbinary Americans that we see them, they belong, and they should be treated with dignity and respect. Their courage has given countless others strength, but no one should have to be brave just to be themselves. Every American deserves that freedom.
Transgender Americans shape our Nation’s soul—proudly serving in the military, curing deadly diseases, holding elected office, running thriving businesses, fighting for justice, raising families, and much more. As kids, they deserve what every child deserves: the chance to learn in safe and supportive schools, to develop meaningful friendships, and to live openly and honestly. As adults, they deserve the same rights enjoyed by every American, including equal access to health care, housing, and jobs and the chance to age with grace as senior citizens. But today, too many transgender Americans are still denied those rights and freedoms. A wave of discriminatory State laws is targeting transgender youth, terrifying families and hurting kids who are not hurting anyone. An epidemic of violence against transgender women and girls, in particular women and girls of color, has taken lives far too soon. Last year’s Club Q shooting in Colorado was another painful example of this kind of violence—a stain on the conscience of our Nation.
My Administration has fought to end these injustices from day one, working to ensure that transgender people and the entire LGBTQI+ community can live openly and safely. On my first day as President, I issued an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to root out discrimination against LGBTQI+ people and their families. We have appointed a record number of openly LGBTQI+ leaders, and I was proud to rescind the ban on openly transgender people serving in the military. We are also working to make public spaces and travel more accessible, including with more inclusive gender markers on United States passports. We are improving access to public services and entitlements like Social Security. We are cracking down on discrimination in housing and education. And last December, I signed the Respect for Marriage Act into law, ensuring that every American can marry the person they love and have that marriage accepted, period.
Meanwhile, we are also working to ease the tremendous strain that discrimination, bullying, and harassment can put on transgender children—more than half of whom seriously considered suicide in the last year. The Department of Education is, for example, helping ensure that transgender students have equal opportunities to learn and thrive at school, and the Department of Justice is pushing back against extreme laws that seek to ban evidence-based gender-affirming health care.
There is much more to do. I continue to call on the Congress to finally pass the Equality Act and extend long-overdue civil rights protections
America is founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives. We have never fully lived up to that, but we have never walked away from it either. Today, as we celebrate transgender people, we also celebrate every American’s fundamental right to be themselves, bringing us closer to realizing America’s full promise.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim March 31, 2023, as Transgender Day of Visibility. I call upon all Americans to join us in lifting up the lives and voices of transgender people throughout our Nation and to work toward eliminating violence and discrimination against all transgender, gender nonconforming, and nonbinary people.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
The Arab American story is the American story—one of diverse backgrounds and faiths, vibrant tradition, bold innovation, hard work, commitment to community, and stalwart patriotism, all coming together to accomplish something greater than any one of us. This month, we join together to celebrate the immeasurable contributions of Arab Americans to our Nation and recommit ourselves to the timeless work of making sure that all people have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
Ours is a Nation shaped by the immigrant’s heart, and generations of brave and hopeful people from across all countries, including from the Arab world, have woven their unique heritages, customs, and talents into the tapestry of America. Today, the achievements of Arab Americans are reflected in the arts and sciences; in businesses and faith communities; in classrooms and hospitals; and in police stations, firehouses, and every branch of the military. Arab Americans are also proudly serving throughout my Administration, bringing a diversity of expertise that helps make this country stronger, more prosperous, and more just.
Sadly, we also recognize that, even as Arab Americans enrich our Nation, many continue to face prejudice, bigotry, and violence—a stain on our collective conscience. Hate must have no safe harbor in this country. We must affirm that sentiment again and again. That is why, on my first day in office, I issued the Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States, which harmed the Arab American community. I also signed an Executive Order charging the Federal Government with advancing equity for historically underserved communities, including Arab Americans. I was proud to host a first-of-its-kind United We Stand Summit at the White House and announce new measures to help communities prevent and respond to hate-based threats, bullying, and harassment. I established a new interagency group to coordinate the Federal Government’s efforts to fight antisemitism and Islamophobia, which impact Arab Americans. And my Administration is also exploring adding a new data category to the census for Middle Eastern and North African communities as part of our vital work to ensure that Arab Americans are seen, valued, consulted, and properly considered as new policy is made.
I have worked closely with our partners across the Middle East and North Africa to advance a common vision for the world as well as a more peaceful, prosperous, and integrated region. Together, we are strengthening our ability to address shared challenges, from regional security to climate change; fostering economic development and cooperation in science, technology, renewable energy, and space; and bringing greater peace and prosperity to all of our people.
The United States is the only Nation in the world founded on an idea—the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. As a Nation, we have never fully lived up to that promise, but we have never walked away from it either. This Arab American Heritage Month, let us all strive to honor our fundamental values and advance equity and opportunity for all people, affirming once again that diversity is our country’s greatest strength.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as Arab American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the history, culture, and achievements of Arab Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Across America, care workers help raise our children, assist seniors as they age with dignity, and support people with disabilities—giving families peace of mind and making it possible for millions of Americans to earn a paycheck while their loved ones are safe and secure. These unsung heroes strengthen our communities and form the backbone of our Nation’s economy. This month, we honor their extraordinary contributions and commit to supporting them with better pay, better benefits, and the recognition they have long deserved.
Despite all they give to this country, care workers—including child care workers, home care workers, and long-term care workers—are among the lowest-paid workers in America. Some juggle multiple jobs, and many leave the profession altogether in search of better options. The vast majority of care workers are women, and a disproportionate share are people of color, so this chronic underpayment deepens gender and racial wealth gaps. During the COVID–19 pandemic, many care workers were forced to put themselves and their families at risk, just to do their jobs. And the care workforce continues to recover slowly, making it hard for families to find care. This leads to hundreds of billions in lost wages each year and only heightens the obligation placed on the Nation’s more than 50 million family caregivers.
As many have said, care is the work that makes all other work possible. That is why my Administration invested over $39 billion from our American Rescue Plan to help child care providers keep their doors open and to provide child care workers with higher pay, bonuses, and other benefits—reducing turnover and attracting new staff. To date, these efforts have helped 220,000 child care programs, which employ more than 1 million child care workers and have the capacity to serve 9.6 million children. At the height of the pandemic, we delivered financial relief to nearly 300,000 child care workers through our expanded earned income tax credit. We know we must do more, so my most recent budget proposes investing $600 billion over 10 years to expand access to high-quality child care and free, high-quality preschool. This funding will allow States to increase pay for child care workers while helping the families of more than 16 million children afford child care.
Meanwhile, we are promoting the use of apprenticeship programs and partnering with employers, unions, and others to recruit, train, and keep long-term care workers on the job while also helping them advance their careers as registered and licensed nurses. My Budget calls on the Congress to invest $150 billion over the next decade to improve and expand Medicaid home- and community-based services—making it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to receive care in their own homes. This funding would improve the quality of jobs for home care workers and support family caregivers.
Our message this month to care workers across America is simple: The work you do matters. You are there for families when they need you most—providing comfort, strength, and compassion that inspire us all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as Care Workers Recognition Month. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the contributions of care workers to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
This month, we honor the over 2 million children of our service members and veterans, whose support and sacrifice help keep our military strong and our Nation secure. These young Americans already understand what it means to serve, shouldering the unique demands of military life with courage and tenacity.
Whenever the First Lady and I meet with military children, we are amazed by their strength and selflessness. Most of these young patriots uproot their lives every few years—starting at new schools, making new friends, and learning new cultures and customs in different corners of the country and around the globe. They often celebrate birthdays and holidays with an empty seat at the dinner table. Many have marked graduations without one of their biggest fans in the crowd. So often, these children serve as Hidden Helpers, becoming caregivers for their wounded, ill, or injured loved ones—and far too many have grown up with the enduring grief of having lost a parent.
As a Nation, we have many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation: to prepare our troops we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families while they are deployed and when they return home. Our military-connected children are at the heart of this sacred obligation. My Administration is stepping up to meet this obligation. We have expanded the Military Parental Leave Program, which enables service members to spend needed time with their families following a child’s birth, adoption, or placement for long-term foster care. Through the Joining Forces initiative, the First Lady is leading our efforts to support military-connected children in their classrooms and help ease the burdens created by the highly mobile military lifestyle. We are also investing to provide their parents with access to affordable, quality child care.
The English poet John Milton once wrote, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”; Every day, military-connected children stand tall with pride for their parents and our Nation. They make sacrifices—big and small—so their parents can continue to serve and protect this country. These young people represent the very best of America, and we will always be grateful for their service to our Nation. May God bless our troops and their families, caregivers, and survivors.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as the Month of the Military Child. I call upon the people of the United States to honor the children of our service members and veterans with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also encourage Americans everywhere to find ways to support military-connected children, including by wearing purple during the month of April in honor of their service.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Cancer has touched nearly every American family, and it remains the second leading cause of death in the United States. During National Cancer Control Month, we call on all Americans to join our movement to end cancer as we know it. By raising awareness of the risk factors, promoting life-saving regular screenings, investing in research, and expanding access to affordable treatment, we can give patients, survivors, and their families the hope and new beginnings they deserve.
We have made enormous progress in the half-century since our country first declared war on cancer. We have learned it is not a single disease but, in fact, over 200 different types of cancers caused by different genetic mutations. We have discovered life-saving prevention and early detection measures, new medicines, and innovative therapies, slashing the death rate by a third since 1991. But despite all that progress, cancer still claims the lives of over 600,000 Americans a year. And for many communities of color, the mortality rates are far worse, with Black Americans facing the highest mortality rate of any racial and ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers. Patients and their loved ones are still overwhelmed by a flood of unfamiliar information; worried about how they will pay for treatment; and awash in bewilderment, frustration, and fear. And those who have lost someone have often lost a piece of their soul.
I am more confident than ever, though, that we can change things. Last year, as part of the Unity Agenda that I outlined during my State of
Improving treatment options is only part of the fight—we also need to make those treatments more affordable for everyone. To that end, the American Rescue Plan expanded the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to pay for cancer screenings and primary care visits and to cover cancer survivors and others who have preexisting conditions. We are working to make sure insurers cover patient navigation services, too, to help patients, caregivers, and families through screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survival. Meanwhile, the Inflation Reduction Act will cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 per year. This is a gamechanger for cancer patients in particular, whose medicines can currently cost seven times that. And the Honoring our PACT Act is ensuring that veterans exposed to cancer-causing toxic substances during their military service get the health care and benefits that they have earned.
More than a third of all cancer cases are preventable, so my Administration is working to reduce people’s exposure to risk factors. That starts with tackling the top cause of cancer deaths in this country: smoking. The Food and Drug Administration has proposed rules to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, which could prevent hundreds of thousands of deaths. For help quitting or avoiding smoking in the first place, visit SmokeFree.gov, call 1–800–QUIT–NOW, or text QUITNOW to 333888.
We are also making it easier for Americans to adopt healthy eating and exercise habits, which have been shown to lower cancer risk. Our national strategy to end hunger seeks to provide healthy, free school meals to millions of kids; boost Medicaid and Medicare coverage for things like nutrition and obesity counseling; and make fruits and vegetables more affordable for low-income families.
Because detecting cancer early can increase survival, we urge all Americans to catch up on routine screening appointments they may have missed during the pandemic and to encourage loved ones to do the same. In the last year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued more than $200 million in grants to support cancer screening in every State, many United States territories, and Tribal Nations. The Department of Health and Human Services is helping community health centers improve access to early detection, too. To learn which screenings are right for you, talk to your health care provider, visit cdc.gov/cancerscreeningorcancer.gov/screeningtests, or call 1–800–4–CANCER.
The fight against cancer is personal to so many families, including ours. It is one of the reasons I ran for President. And it is something big that we can all do together. Cancer does not care if you are Republican or Democrat—we need everyone in the game. We need the scientific and medical communities, bringing their boldest thinking. We need the private sector, testing new treatments and sharing more knowledge. We need people living with cancer, survivors, caregivers, and families, whose absolute courage this work is all about. For the lives we can save and those we have lost, let this be a truly American moment that rallies the country and the world together to end cancer as we know it and to cure some cancers for good.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as National Cancer Control Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent, detect, treat, and control cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we want every young person in the United States who has faced the fear and pain of abuse or neglect to know they are not alone. We see you and will always fight to protect your safety and well-being. We reaffirm our commitment to listening to children, standing with brave survivors, and reaching out across our communities to support families and to help others in need.
I was raised to believe that the greatest sin in life is the abuse of power, and the abuse of a woman or child is the worst of all. Yet millions of children of every race, religion, and background face neglect or physical, emotional, or sexual abuse in America every year. It can leave deep, lasting scars, making it harder to learn in school, to form trusting relationships, to build self-esteem, and to escape cycles of abuse long-term. It denies far too many children the promise of America and risks cutting them off from their dreams and undermining their ability to reach their full potential.
We have a moral obligation to protect every child in America and to help survivors heal. That is why, as a United States Senator, I wrote and passed the Violence Against Women Act, to help secure safety and justice for women and children impacted by domestic violence. We have fought ever since to keep building on that law—including with last year’s bipartisan reauthorization, which increased support for pre
To support our children, we are continuing our efforts to reduce child poverty across the board, including by fighting to restore the Child Tax Credit, which in 2021 helped slash child poverty to its lowest rate ever. We know that poverty can trigger interventions in which children are sometimes unnecessarily removed from their homes. My new budget requests $10 billion to help keep families safely together and to better fund child abuse prevention and treatment services.
Meanwhile, a dangerous wave of cynical State investigations is targeting families just because they love and support their transgender children. These State campaigns are government overreach at its worst. From the Department of Justice to the Department of Health and Human Services, my Administration will keep working to make sure that politicians do not unlawfully weaponize child protective services against loving families who simply want to support their kids and help them to be themselves.
It has been said that a Nation is judged by how we treat the most vulnerable among us. Nowhere is that truer than when it comes to protecting our children, making sure they grow up safe from harm and surrounded by love. That is on all of us. For more information on how to recognize and report child abuse or neglect, as well as on how to support loving families and safe communities, visit childwelfare.gov.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as National Child Abuse Prevention Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by joining together as a Nation to promote the safety and well-being of all children and families and to recognize the child-welfare professionals and allies who work tirelessly to protect our children. Let us also honor the strength and resilience of survivors of child abuse.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
More than 400,000 Americans in every corner of our country are alive today thanks to the tremendous generosity and courage of organ donors. During National Donate Life Month, we honor donors and their families who have turned pain into purpose by sharing the gift of life with loved ones in need or countless others whom they have never met. We encourage everyone to follow their lead and register as an organ, eye, tissue, or bone marrow donor, bringing hope and healing to so many others.
Last year, American doctors completed our Nation’s one-millionth organ transplant, a tremendous milestone in the history of a procedure pioneered and honed in America. We are now performing transplants at a record pace, with higher success rates and increased lifespans for recipients. Still, every 10 minutes, someone new joins the waiting list—fighting organ failure or blood cancer, their futures hanging in the balance. More than 100,000 people, including 1,900 children, are currently on the waiting list. A majority of them are people of color, for whom it can sometimes be more difficult to find a good donor match. Seventeen Americans die every day while waiting for a transplant.
We each have the power to change that. Just one person can save up to 8 lives through organ donation after they die and improve another 75 lives through eye and tissue donation. Registering as a donor does not change the quality of care that you receive in your lifetime. It allows you to give countless others a second chance at life and your family to find peace amid grief while leaving an extraordinary legacy of compassion and dignity.
Each year, thousands of Americans choose to donate an organ while still living, a profoundly courageous act of connection and healing.
My Administration is working across the board to support organ donation and to make sure living donors and recipients have the affordable health care and prescription drug coverage they need before and after a transplant and throughout their lives. We have acted to extend Medicare coverage of vital drugs for kidney transplant patients. And just recently, we launched the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) Modernization Initiative to better serve the needs of patients and families across the country. We have published data on organ donors, organ procurements, transplant waitlists, and transplant recipients. We will foster competition, working to promote the use of innovative technology and ensure the highest quality of care is provided to patients. We are committed to a modernized OPTN that is transparent, accountable, and equitable.
We have also launched the transformational Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $2.5 billion for breakthroughs in the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer and other deadly diseases, which could one day make many transplants unnecessary.
America is a great Nation because we are a good people—generous, decent, and fair. We look out for our neighbors and lend a hand to those
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as National Donate Life Month. I call on every person who can to share the gift of life and hope by becoming an organ, eye, tissue, or bone marrow donor. I also call on this Nation to observe National Pediatric Transplant Week from April 23 through April 29, a week dedicated to ending the pediatric transplant waiting list.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Freedom from sexual assault is a basic human right. Yet tens of millions of Americans—our family and friends, colleagues, neighbors, and classmates—carry the trauma of sexual assault with them. National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month is an important time to speak out, stand with courageous survivors, and finally change the culture that has allowed sexual violence to exist for far too long.
Sexual violence affects all people, regardless of geography, race, age, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or economic background. One in four women and 1 in 26 men have survived a rape or attempted rape. Abuse can happen anywhere—at work, at home, at school, in other public places, or online. It can lead to depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other physical and emotional wounds. We must keep fighting to make clear how important consent is and how sexual assault can be a crime. And we must help survivors access safety, justice, and healing.
That is why I wrote the landmark Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) 30 years ago, at a time when domestic violence and sexual assault were often swept under the rug. We changed that. VAWA has given us tools to prevent and prosecute sexual assault and provide support for survivors. It has helped to save and rebuild so many lives, and I have never quit working to strengthen the law, including expanding
Today, we are doing more to help survivors in underserved communities and rural areas. We are working to reduce the backlog of untested rape kits as many survivors continue to wait for justice. We are improving trauma-informed training for law enforcement and making sure that adult survivors of child sexual abuse can get help, including legal help and support for healing. And we have ensured that Tribal courts have jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators suspected of committing crimes of sexual assault, sex trafficking, and child abuse on Tribal lands. Additionally, through the American Rescue Plan, we have delivered $1 billion in additional funding for rape crisis centers, culturally specific community support organizations, and other domestic violence and sexual assault services nationwide.
We have also reformed how the military investigates and prosecutes sexual assault, sexual harassment, and related crimes, including by shifting authority from commanders to independent prosecutors. I issued an Executive Order listing sexual harassment and the wrongful distribution of intimate images as offenses under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
I launched a Federal task force to tackle the rise in online sexual harassment and abuse, recommending concrete steps for prevention, accountability, research, and support for survivors. And I signed laws ending forced arbitration and limiting the enforcement of non-disclosure agreements to ensure people who have experienced sexual assault and sexual harassment in the workplace can pursue justice.
While we have made progress addressing sexual violence over the years, there is still much work to do. As President, I have expanded funding for campus prevention efforts, building on the work I did as Vice President when we launched “It’s On Us”;. I signed an Executive Order calling on the Department of Education to protect students from discrimination based on sex, including sex-based harassment and sexual violence. And I will continue to fight tirelessly to realize the promise of Title IX, which requires institutions to prevent and address sexual violence and harassment. I have called on young men in particular to speak up and stand against abuse—because the real test of character is having the guts to do the right thing. And I have been awed by the courage of countless survivors in every part of the country who have come forward to push for justice and have inspired many others to do the same. It is on us all to stand with them.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to support sexual assault survivors, including when survivors reach out and disclose abuse, and to strengthen our efforts to prevent this abuse in the first place.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
America has always been a land of second chances, founded on fresh starts, new possibilities, and the belief that every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. During Second Chance Month, we recommit to helping people forge the new beginnings they have earned and building a safer and more just society.
I believe in redemption—but for hundreds of thousands of Americans released from State and Federal prisons each year, or the nearly 80 million who have an arrest or conviction record, it is not always easy to come by. A criminal record can prevent them from landing a steady job, a safe place to live, quality health care, or the chance to go to back school. It can keep them from ever getting a loan to buy a home, start a business, or build a future. It can bar them from voting. As a result, three-quarters of formerly incarcerated people remain unemployed a year after their release—and joblessness is a top predictor of recidivism. We are not giving people a real second chance.
Our justice system should instead be based on the simple premise that once someone completes their sentence, they should have the chance to earn a living, build a life, and participate in our democracy as fellow citizens. Instead of giving people $25 and a bus ticket when they are released, we have to help them address their underlying needs as they re-enter society. It will keep families whole, build stronger and safer communities, grow our economy, and reduce recidivism long-term.
To do that, we need education, job, and substance use programs, during and after incarceration. My Administration is, for example, investing nearly $1 billion in job training, recovery, and reentry services. We are implementing changes to the Pell Grant program so people can earn a college degree while still in prison, jumpstarting new lives. Once they are released, we are helping them to find jobs rebuilding America through our historic infrastructure law; and we have expanded access to small business loans, so no one’s past keeps them from building a better future.
There is much more to do. Last summer, I released my Safer America Plan, which calls on the Congress to invest $15 billion more in mental health and substance use services, job training, affordable housing, and other resources to help people rebuild their lives. It also urges the Congress to end restrictions on people with criminal records receiving disability insurance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program food assistance, or other Federal benefits that would help them get back on their feet.
At the same time, we have to invest in preventing crime and breaking the cycle of recidivism. To that end, my Administration has put $3 billion in American Rescue Plan funds toward mental health and substance use programs. We are allocating $400 million this year to keep young people from becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. And my Safer America Plan would increase support for State and local crime prevention, including community violence intervention, which has been shown to reduce gun violence by up to 60 percent. We have also taken historic steps to end our Nation’s failed approach to marijuana. Sending people to prison for possession has upended too many lives for conduct that many States no longer prohibit. It has seen Black and Brown Americans disproportionately arrested, prosecuted, and convicted; and imposed unfair barriers to housing, employment, and education. Last fall, I announced a full pardon for Federal and DC simple possession offenses, while calling on other elected officials to do the same at the State and local levels where most marijuana prosecutions take place.
Meanwhile, we are working to reverse generations of disinvestment, rebuilding America’s economy from the bottom up and middle out to leave no one behind. We have created a record 12 million jobs in the last 2 years and now have the near lowest unemployment rate in a half-century, putting good-paying work within everyone’s reach, including people with past arrests or convictions. Our historic investments in infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy will help to close the racial wealth gap, investing in people and communities that have been overlooked for too long. That is what second chances look like, and every American should have an equal shot at one.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2023 as Second Chance Month. I call upon all government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
The field of public health is grounded in the fundamental truth that we are all in this together—that our health is connected and we are stronger as a Nation when we work together to lift everyone’s well-being. During National Public Health Week, we celebrate the life-saving work that our public health professionals do to keep Americans healthy and safe.
All of America has seen the importance of public health during the past 3 years. The pandemic shut down our businesses, closed our schools, and robbed us of so much, including the lives of over one million Americans. While the virus is not gone, we have made enormous progress, and it no longer controls our lives. More than 230 million Americans are fully vaccinated. COVID deaths are down more than 90 percent. Schools and businesses are open and thriving. And these gains are thanks in large part to the absolute courage and commitment of everyone who contributes to protecting our public health—including first responders and social workers, scientists and researchers, doctors and nurses, and so many others.
Public health professionals have been shaping our country for the better since long before COVID arose. From expanding access to immunizations and improving safety standards for food, traffic, and the workplace, to advocating for cleaner air and water, public health professionals have improved the lives of all Americans and made our country stronger, healthier, and more prosperous.
Looking ahead, there is so much more to do to end health disparities, keep advancing science, and improve the health and well-being of all Americans. That starts by making sure everyone has access to quality health care. Under my Administration, we have expanded coverage through the Affordable Care Act, making it cheaper and easier to sign up and saving millions of families $800 a year. Through the American Rescue Plan, we invested $7.6 billion in community health centers, and my latest budget would put us on a path to doubling the size of the Health Center Program, which funds care in underserved areas. We are also bringing down the cost of life-saving drugs like insulin and investing in next-generation breakthroughs to prevent, diagnose, and treat deadly diseases like cancer through the new Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health.
To take on the public health epidemic of gun violence, we passed the most significant gun safety law in three decades, which includes enhanced background checks for individuals under age 21, and funding for red flag laws that can help keep guns from people who are a danger to themselves and others. The law also makes historic investments in mental health, and it complements the launch of the 9–8–8 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and additional work to protect kids online. Additionally, I reauthorized the landmark Violence Against Women Act that I first wrote in 1990 and expanded protections for survivors of domestic violence. And we are fighting the opioid epidemic by cracking down on fentanyl trafficking; pushing for tougher penalties for suppliers; and expanding access to life-saving naloxone, treatment, and recovery services.
We have also made the biggest-ever investment in fighting the public health threat represented by the climate crisis. Our Justice40 Initiative works to ensure that 40 percent of our clean energy investments flow to disadvantaged communities that have so often borne the brunt, including the health consequences, of environmental damage. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is replacing poisonous lead pipes that go into 10 million homes and 400,000 schools and child care centers so that every child in America can turn on the faucet and drink clean water.
And we have released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases like diabetes and obesity. The strategy provides
Since the Supreme Court’s extreme decision to strip women of their fundamental right to choose, I have also taken urgent executive action to safeguard emergency care and protect patients’ privacy. The Congress must act now to codify the protections of Roe v. Wade into law so women in every State have the right to make their own health care decisions. At the same time, my Administration is also working to end the maternal health crisis that leaves Black and Native American women up to three times more likely than white women to die during pregnancy.
These are all vital public health issues. Their range reminds us how connected our health is to the health of others. That is why the United States has continued to lead on global health challenges like HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, as well as COVID. Working with the G20 and other partners, we created the Pandemic Fund to strengthen global pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response. And at home, we invested over $7 billion into strengthening the capacity of State and local public health departments to respond to future public health crises—including by launching the new Public Health AmeriCorps to train a strong, diverse public health workforce for the future.
As we look ahead, we have a choice to make. We can repeat the mistakes of the past that left us vulnerable to public health crises like COVID, or we can seize the opportunity to better prepare ourselves for the future and build a stronger public health system in every community nationwide. Let’s choose to move forward, celebrating our dedicated public health professionals and making America more healthy, resilient, and just.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 3 through April 9, 2023, as National Public Health Week. I call on all citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to take action to improve the health of our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Education and Sharing Day, we honor the memory of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, who devoted his life to outreach and teaching—building bridges, challenging us to grow, and championing tolerance and learning.
Forced to flee Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, the Rebbe witnessed some of history’s darkest moments. But his faith and a lifetime of study had already taught him that education is both the antidote to hate and the cornerstone of humanity as a whole. From Brooklyn, he turned pain into purpose and built a global movement devoted to education, fellowship, and healing. His work established schools and community institutions dedicated to helping people reach their full potential. He offered guidance to Presidents and celebrated the rich diversity of our Nation, advocating throughout for compassion and learning. Education, he once said, should not just be about training individuals to earn a living, but it should also be about making a better living for society as a whole. Instructors should not just teach; they should teach justice. Students should not only learn but also build character.
My Administration has stood firm in defending the core values that the Rebbe championed and that we all share as Americans—the idea that everyone is created equal and must be treated with dignity and respect throughout their lives. We are committed to stamping out intolerance, so nothing stops children from learning and no one is denied the promise of America. In this country, hate will never prevail.
The Rebbe told us, “We must translate pain into action and tears into growth.”; That is what education makes possible. Children are the kite strings that hold our national ambitions aloft—everything America will be tomorrow depends on how we deliver for our young people today. So let us remember his teachings. Let us prepare our children to be tolerant, curious, and moral, ensuring that they lift up others as they rise.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2, 2023, as Education and Sharing Day, USA. I call upon all government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
There is no one way to be autistic—each individual with autism experiences it differently—but together, autistic people make industries, communities, and our Nation stronger. Today, we celebrate the achievements of neurodiverse people everywhere and champion the equal rights and dignity of all those living on the autism spectrum.
Here in the United States, more than 5.4 million adults are autistic, and 1 in every 44 children has been diagnosed with autism. Yet this developmental disability is still misunderstood. Autistic people continue to face obstacles when seeking employment, health care, education, and housing, and the immense contributions of people with autism are often overlooked. We owe it to our fellow Americans to address the disparities they face and to support autistic people with tools that facilitate clearer communication, increased productivity, and greater independence.
That is why my Administration is funding cutting-edge research to enable earlier autism diagnoses and to develop more resources to help neurodiverse people of all ages thrive. Recognizing that Autism Spectrum Disorder is categorized as a disability, my American Rescue Plan provided $25 billion to States to make it easier for people with disabilities, including autism, to receive care at home. We also rolled out new tools and strategies for partner organizations to connect disabled Americans with stable housing while helping them pay rent, fight eviction, and prevent homelessness.
Last year, I was proud to reauthorize Kevin and Avonte’s Law, which expands training for first responders and others giving care to people with autism. And in my recent State of the Union Address, I called on the Congress to increase its support for community living for people with disabilities.
My Administration is also boosting employment opportunities for autistic and other historically marginalized Americans. I was proud to sign an Executive Order advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce, which will help create new jobs for Americans with autism and make space for their voices in the policy-making process.
We are helping State and local governments, employers, and nonprofits tap Federal funds to hire more Americans with disabilities like autism through competitive integrated employment practices. We are cracking down on employers who discriminate on the basis of disability, and we are fighting to end the unfair use of sub-minimum wages. I continue to urge States that have not yet expanded Medicaid coverage under the Affordable Care Act to do the right thing and provide health insurance to those currently locked out of Medicaid support that would otherwise be available to them from the Federal Government. Medicaid expansion would help many Americans with disabilities, including those with autism.
To support students with autism, the Department of Education is ensuring that public schools uphold their obligation to provide free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment to all students. My Administration has also issued new guidance to help schools avoid the discriminatory use of discipline, which too often impacts autistic students, whose needs and behaviors are commonly misunderstood.
As we build a more inclusive, just, and equal Nation, we aim to lead by the power of our example. I reestablished the role of Special Advisor on International Disability Rights at the Department of State to prioritize disability rights in our policy discussions with foreign nations. The United States Agency for International Development is advancing disability inclusion as part of its democracy, climate, humanitarian, and peacebuilding activities. And as co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network and a participant in the Global Disability Summit, the United States continues to promote the equal human rights of people with disabilities worldwide.
America is founded on the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout their lives. Today and always, let us strive to live up to this ideal. Let us embrace our diversity; empower each other to reach our full potential; and promote the basic decency, acceptance, and fairness we know is right.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 2, 2023, as World Autism Awareness Day. I call upon all Americans to learn more about autism to improve early diagnosis, to learn more about the experiences of autistic people from autistic people, and to build more welcoming and inclusive communities to support people with autism.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day, we honor the more than half a million service members who sacrificed their freedom as prisoners of war in order to defend freedom for their fellow Americans. These brave patriots remind us of the grave costs of war and the sacrifice we ask of those who fight for us. We owe them and their families, caregivers, and survivors a debt of gratitude we can never fully repay.
This year, we mark the 50th anniversary of Operation Homecoming, the repatriation of nearly 600 Americans held captive during the Vietnam War, as well as the 70th anniversary of Operations Big Switch and Little Switch, which brought home more than 3,700 American prisoners of the Korean War. These heroes—and other prisoners of war from every conflict throughout our history—stand among the bravest of our Nation, serving honorably under intolerable circumstances. Their unwavering courage helped defend an idea unlike any other in human history: the idea of the United States of America.
Our Nation has many obligations, but our one truly sacred obligation is to equip those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they return home. To every prisoner of war now safely reunited with their loved ones: We will never fail to honor your sacrifice. To every family still awaiting answers about a hero who went missing in action: We will never stop working to bring them home. And to every service member defending our Nation and our values around the world today: We will never forget what you give to this country each day.
May God bless our former prisoners of war and their families, caregivers, and survivors, and may God protect our troops.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 9, 2023, as National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day. I call upon Americans to observe this day by honoring the service and sacrifice of all former prisoners of war as our Nation expresses its eternal gratitude for their sacrifice. I also call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Black Maternal Health Week is a reminder that so many families experience pain, neglect, and loss during what should be one of the most joyous times of their lives. It is an urgent call for action. Black women in America are three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This is on top of the fact that women in America are dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than in any other developed nation.
Tackling this crisis begins with understanding how institutional racism drives these high maternal mortality rates. Studies show that Black
That is why my Administration wrote the Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, which lays out specific actions that the Federal Government will take to improve maternal health, and secured funding from the Congress to help implement it. Vice President Kamala Harris has been a leader on the issue of maternal mortality for years and led the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, including by issuing a call to action to address disparities in maternal care. She continues to elevate the issue nationally, convening State legislators, medical professionals, and others so all mothers can access the care they need before, during, and after childbirth.
Additionally, my American Rescue Plan gave States the option to provide a full year of postpartum coverage to Medicaid beneficiaries—up from just 60 days of coverage. As a result, my Administration has approved requests from 30 States and Washington, D.C. to provide women with Medicaid coverage with a full year of postpartum coverage, and we have made this option permanent for every State that extends Medicaid postpartum coverage. My Administration has helped facilitate Medicaid expansion in four States since I took office, and I continue to call on the Congress to close the Medicaid coverage gap. We are also working to expand and diversify the maternal health workforce, helping health care providers hire and train diverse and culturally-competent physicians, certified nurse midwives, doulas, and community health workers to support women during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care. My American Rescue Plan included historic investments in our health workforce, and my Budget includes $471 million to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates—improving access to care in rural communities, expanding implicit bias training for health care providers, and further supporting the perinatal health workforce.
Because expecting mothers deserve to know where to find the best care, the Department of Health and Human Services created a new “Birthing Friendly”; hospital designation, a public-facing recognition of the quality and safety of maternity care which will be publicly reported on the Care Compare website beginning this Fall. My Administration is committed to implementing the No Surprises Act, which helps ensure that women are protected from certain unexpected out-of-network medical bills that can come up during pregnancy, postpartum care, and delivery.
One in 5 women in America experience maternal mental health conditions like postpartum depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, so we launched the Maternal Mental Health Hotline. By calling 1–833–9–HELP4MOMS—a confidential, 24-hour, toll-free number—new and expecting moms can now connect with professional counselors. We are also supporting and expanding maternal mental health screening pro
We are protecting the job security and workplace rights of pregnant and nursing mothers—including Black women, who are more likely to be fired, quit, or be forced to return to work after giving birth before it is healthy for them to do so. Over the past 2 years, I signed legislation to ensure employers make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers and job applicants, expand the use of break time and access to private spaces for millions of nursing parents, and study the unique maternal health challenges facing veterans and help ensure they get the quality health care they deserve through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
At the same time, my Administration is using the power of the Federal Government to address the long-standing disparities that Black communities continue to face—disparities that directly impact the health and well-being of Black mothers. During the height of the COVID–19 crisis, my Administration provided relief to hardworking families, cutting the rate of poverty for Black Americans by nearly a third.
We are also confronting racial discrimination in housing; expanding public transit to every neighborhood in the country; improving access to affordable and healthy food through our National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health; and tackling dangerous environmental injustices that have hit communities of color the hardest.
This week, as we continue our work to make pregnancy and childbirth safe, dignified, and joyful for all, let us remember that health care should be a right and not a privilege. Let us give thanks to the extraordinary maternal health care workforce, which serves its patients and their families every day. And let us join in common cause to end the tragedy of maternal mortality once and for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 11 through April 17, 2023, as Black Maternal Health Week. I call upon all Americans to raise awareness of the state of Black maternal health in the United States by understanding the consequences of institutional racism; recognizing the scope of this problem and the need for urgent solutions; amplifying the voices and experiences of Black women, families, and communities; and committing to building a world in which Black women do not have to fear for their safety, their well-being, their dignity, or their lives before, during, and after pregnancy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Yom HaShoah and throughout these days of remembrance, we mourn the six million Jews who were murdered during the horror of the Holocaust—as well as the millions of Roma and Sinti, Slavs, disabled persons, LGBTQI+ individuals, and political dissidents who were murdered at the hands of the Nazis and their collaborators. Together with courageous survivors, descendants of victims, and people around the world, we renew our solemn vow: “never again.”;
Last year, I returned to Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, to pay tribute to the lives that were stolen during this dark chapter of our history and to honor their memory. I will never forget meeting with two survivors on that sacred ground and hearing their stories. The horrors of the Holocaust are painful to recount—the savage murder of innocent families and the systemic dehumanization of entire populations. We remember the cries for help that went unanswered and the bright futures cut short. We must never look away from the truth of what happened. The rite of remembrance becomes more urgent with each passing year, as fewer survivors remain to share their stories and open our eyes to the harms of unchecked hatred.
Unfortunately, hatred never truly goes away. It only hides—lurking until it is given the oxygen to emerge again. We have seen this hard truth across our country, from swastikas on cars and antisemitic banners on bridges to attacks against Jewish people at schools and synagogues and outright Holocaust denialism. The venom and violence of antisemitism goes against all the values we stand for as Americans. And it is a stark reminder—as my dear friend Elie Wiesel once said—that “Indifference is always the friend of the enemy.”; And as my father taught me, “silence is complicity.”;
My Administration has not and will not be indifferent. That is why I appointed Deborah Lipstadt, a historian of the Holocaust, as the first Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. We are developing a national strategy to counter antisemitism—mobilizing the full weight of the Federal Government to fight this scourge of hate in America—and we have co-sponsored a United Nations resolution to combat Holocaust denial through education. We secured the largest increase in funding ever for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, Jewish day schools, and other houses of worship. And I convened the first-ever White House summit on combating hate-fueled violence because nobody should fear going to a religious service, wearing a symbol of their faith, or simply being who they are.
Hate must have no safe harbor in America or anywhere else. Today and always, we make our message clear: Evil will not win. Hate will not prevail. And the violence of antisemitism will not be the story of our time. Together, we can ensure that “never again”; is a promise we keep.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 16 through April 23, 2023, as a week of observance of the Days of Remembrance of Victims of the Holocaust, and I call upon the people of the United States to observe this week and pause to remember victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
This week, we honor the selfless spirit of Americans who volunteer, and we sound the call for more Americans to seize opportunities to serve their communities.
Every day across America, volunteers are performing extraordinary acts of service. They are repairing and rebuilding homes, educating our youth, and connecting people to jobs. They are supporting veterans and military families, helping to run our elections, and combating climate change. In the aftermath of natural disasters, neighbors volunteer to restore communities and cook hot meals. And amid a pandemic, volunteers have stepped forward to help administer vaccines and provide lifesaving resources to people in need.
Volunteering defines America. Our Nation is a place where light triumphs over darkness, where we seek to lift everyone up, and where we lead not by the example of our power but by the power of our example. As those who volunteer know firsthand, service also benefits the volunteer. It can teach important skills, help build professional networks, and provide an empowering sense of purpose. Volunteering brings people together, uniting us around our common belief in the dignity and equality of every person and giving us a chance to learn from others we might otherwise never meet.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of AmeriCorps. In the decades since President Clinton created this Federal agency, more than a million Americans have fanned out to communities across our country to serve neighbors, respond and rebuild after natural disasters, educate students in need, and provide critical support in the face of public health challenges like the opioid crisis and COVID–19. Every year, AmeriCorps matches over 140,000 AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with service opportunities. AmeriCorps embodies our Nation’s commitment to service, and I was proud to strengthen it with a historic $1 billion investment through our American Rescue Plan. My new Budget calls on the Congress to raise the living allowance provided to AmeriCorps members, making national service more accessible to Americans of all
Additionally, my Administration hosted the United We Stand Summit, convening civic, faith, philanthropic, and business leaders to address the hate-fueled violence that threatens our democracy. Responding to this call to action, leading community organizations announced a new partnership, A Nation of Bridgebuilders, to train tens of thousands of Americans in techniques that build bridges across diverse identities and backgrounds—including storytelling, finding shared values, and volunteering together in common purpose. This initiative will host over 1,000 service events in more than 300 communities, improving lives and bringing Americans closer together.
This week, I encourage all Americans to seek volunteer opportunities near you and to visit AmeriCorps.gov and peacecorps.gov/volunteer to learn more about getting involved. Large and small acts of service can mean so much—lifting spirits, opening up new doors of opportunity, and cementing our identity as a great country full of good people.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 16 through April 22, 2023, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across the country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Edward Abbey, park ranger and author, wrote that “Every man, every woman, carries in heart and mind the image of the ideal place, the right place, the one true home, known or unknown, actual or visionary.”; For so many Americans, this place can be found in our magnificent National Park System. From the pristine lakes of Glacier National Park to the breathtaking cliffs of Acadia and from Independence Hall in Philadelphia to the César E. Chávez National Monument in California, these 424 cultural treasures and natural wonders provide endless opportunities for recreation, reflection, and inspiration. This week, we celebrate our cherished National Park System and recommit ourselves to protecting it for years to come.
Preserving our remarkable lands, which have been home to Tribal Nations since time immemorial, not only bridges our past to our present but also invests in our planet’s future. By tending to our forests, we support our trees’ ability to cycle carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. By safeguarding our wetlands, we shore up our defenses against hurricanes and superstorms and improve our chances of beating back forest fires. Ensuring the health of our ecosystems is vital to our fight against the climate crisis and our resilience when disasters strike.
That is why I launched the “America the Beautiful”; initiative during my first year in office. This set a national goal of voluntarily conserving 30 percent of our country’s lands and waters by 2030. Our National Park System is a cornerstone of this conservation effort, and expanding and protecting it is key to meeting our goal.
My Administration is also investing over a billion dollars through our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help Federal agencies, including the National Park Service, restore our extensive system of national parks and public lands. This funding supports critical ecosystems by combating invasive species, replanting vegetation, and improving soil health. It expands recruitment, training, and pay for thousands of brave wildland firefighters. And it supports new trails, roads, bridges, and other transportation within national parks, making it easier and safer to travel and see the sights. These efforts go hand-in-hand with our Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment in combating climate change in American history. With this law, the National Park Service will hire new employees, and we will build out clean energy charging stations across our national parks and public lands, bringing us closer to a net-zero emissions future.
I have been proud to use executive authorities—including my authority under the Antiquities Act—to protect and expand some of America’s most cherished natural wonders in and outside the National Park System. I designated the Camp Hale-Continental Divide Monument in Colorado and protected Alaska’s Tongass National Forest. I restored protections for Alaska’s Bristol Bay, Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Area Watershed, Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments, and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monuments. And last month, I established our two newest national monuments—Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada and Castner Range National Monument in Texas—protecting nearly 514,000 total acres of public land.
Throughout this work, my Administration is ensuring that all Americans have equal access to our national parks. My new Budget requests $3.8 billion from the Congress for the National Park Service so we can improve transportation options to and from these sites—making it easier for all Americans to visit, especially people in underserved communities and people with disabilities. We are taking steps to recognize traditional indigenous knowledge and to expand Tribal co-stewardship of national parks because drawing upon Tribal Nations’ deep expertise of these lands is key to sustaining them. And through the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership, the National Park Service is helping renovate and build public parks and other outdoor spaces in communities with little access to outdoor recreation.
Our national parks are the envy of the world. Jill and I have taken our children and grandchildren to these extraordinary places around the
On April 22, the National Park Service will be offering free entry to all national parks. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this opportunity and to visit these treasured places.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22 through April 30, 2023, as National Park Week. I encourage all Americans to find their park, recreate responsibly, and enjoy the benefits that come from spending time in the natural world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Every person deserves to feel safe in their home, school, workplace, and community. Yet each year, millions of Americans fall victim to acts of violence, theft, fraud, and other crimes. Often, the pain and trauma can have long-term impacts. During National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, we recommit to the work of preventing crime, supporting victims as they heal, and holding offenders accountable.
Beyond the physical, psychological, and emotional scars, victims and their families too often bear the economic burden of the crimes they suffered—such as lost income, medical bills, or expenses for temporary housing. As a United States Senator, I was proud to support the Victims of Crime Act in 1984, which created a Crime Victims Fund using fines from Federal prosecutions to directly compensate victims and finance victim assistance services. In recent years, the fund’s balance declined significantly, so I signed a bill in 2021 to rebuild it and ensure that victims can access these critical resources.
Last year, I also reauthorized and strengthened the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which I first wrote as a United States Senator more than 30 years ago to change the laws and culture around the scourge of domestic and sexual violence in America. For decades, this law has supported shelters and rape crisis centers; funded housing and legal assistance for survivors of abusive relationships, sexual assault, and stalking; and helped train law enforcement agencies and courts to make the justice system more responsive to survivors’ needs.
As President, I increased funding for VAWA to its highest level so that we can hold more offenders accountable and allow more victims to access trauma-informed care—especially victims from underserved communities, including those from the LGBTQI+ community and rural areas. Tribal courts will now be able to exercise jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators of sexual assault, child abuse, and sex trafficking. The law also enables victims to take people who disseminate their intimate images without consent to court, and it provides training for law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim service providers in addressing online abuse and cyberstalking.
I signed into law the COVID–19 Hate Crimes and Khalid Jabara-Heather Heyer NO HATE Acts, which help State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies better track and prosecute hate-fueled acts of violence against people from marginalized groups, including by establishing state-run reporting hotlines for victims of hate crimes. We also made lynching a Federal hate crime for the first time in American history with the Emmett Till Antilynching Act, giving prosecutors more power to pursue perpetrators of these vile acts. I also hosted the United We Stand Summit, convening civic, faith, philanthropic, and business leaders to prevent and respond to hate crimes, and to help survivors of hate crimes and their communities heal from these tragic events.
While my Administration continues to take historic action to reduce gun crime, we are also taking action to help survivors of gun violence and families that have lost loved ones to this public health epidemic. Last June, I was proud to sign the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly three decades. Among other steps, this law helps keep guns out of the hands of dating partners convicted of violent crimes and provides over a billion dollars to address the youth mental health crisis in America, especially trauma experienced by survivors of gun violence. In March 2023, I signed an Executive Order directing key members of my Cabinet to submit a proposal for improving Federal support for communities and individuals impacted by gun violence.
Supporting crime victims also requires building trust between the public and law enforcement. When someone falls victim to a crime, first responders should have the resources they need to ensure victims feel heard, valued, and supported. We have provided States with over $10 billion to improve law enforcement training, fund community violence interventions, purchase necessary equipment like body-worn cameras, clear court backlogs, and support crime victims. My Safer America Plan calls for an additional $37 billion to prevent crime, reduce gun violence, and create a fairer justice system—including by hiring 100,000 more officers for safe, effective, and accountable community policing, consistent with the standards of my policing Executive Order, which will also help strengthen public trust in law enforcement.
This week and every week, let us all commit to doing our part to help prevent crimes and to provide survivors with the resources they need to heal, pursue justice, and emerge stronger. If you or a loved one are a victim of crime, I encourage you to visit www.Crimevictims.gov.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 23 through April 29, 2023, as National Crime Victims’ Rights Week. I
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
America’s natural wonders help define who we are as a Nation. They unite and renew us, a constant reminder of something bigger than ourselves. But nature is not only a catalyst for reflection—it demands action. On Earth Day, we celebrate the modern environmental movement that kicked off 53 years ago, when millions of Americans of every age and background first rallied together to change our laws and become better stewards of our planet. Because of their courage and commitment, the Environmental Protection Agency was created to safeguard our environment and the health of all Americans, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was established to help protect our ocean. The Congress passed the Clean Water Act to restore our rivers and streams; the 1970 Clean Air Act to slash deadly emissions; and the Endangered Species Act, which has helped prevent 99 percent of potential extinctions of species under its care. Advocates have since built a global coalition that today will see a billion people worldwide take action to protect the Earth. Their work has called us all to conscience and has inspired us to reject the false choice between a sustainable planet and a strong economy. Today we are continuing to prove that we can and must demand both.
This work has never been more urgent. Climate change is a clear and present danger—in the words of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, it is a “code red for humanity.”; We see it across the world and in every corner of our country: more destructive hurricanes and tornadoes; more severe and longer-lasting droughts; and wildfires that have destroyed millions of acres—more land than many whole States. Extreme weather is disrupting our supply chains and overwhelming our energy grids, costing America $165 billion in damages last year alone and often hitting low-income communities hardest. Deforestation, biodiversity loss, toxic spills, and plastic pollution only make things worse. Our economy, our national security, and our children’s futures are at stake.
When I was sworn in as President, we set groundbreaking goals to cut America’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 in order to keep global warming below the critical 1.5-degrees-Celsius threshold. We immediately rejoined the Paris Agreement and have worked to strengthen global resilience—rallying
As we unleash this new era of economic growth powered by clean energy, we are also making historic investments in environmental justice—cleaning up toxic waste, improving air quality, capping old oil and gas wells, and expanding safe outdoor spaces across the country so communities smothered by the legacy of pollution can rebuild. We are working to replace every lead pipe left in America so children everywhere can turn on the faucet and drink clean water, and we are partnering with communities to get dangerous “PFAS”; chemicals out of their water supplies. To complement and enable these efforts, today I signed an Executive Order committing the Federal Government to incorporating environmental justice perspectives, values, and considerations into our work. I have also committed to working with the Congress to quadruple American support for global climate finance, unlocking the additional pools of private investment needed to bring the world along. There is no denying that we are in this together.
At home, we have also deepened our conservation work, preserving our natural wonders as bridges to our past and future. Our “America the Beautiful”; Initiative aims to conserve at least 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030; in its first year, we protected more territory than any administration since President John F. Kennedy’s. Last Earth Day, I signed an Executive Order strengthening America’s forests to harness their power in the fight against climate change and reduce wildfire risk. I have designated magnificent lands from Avi Kwa Ame—or Spirit Mountain—in Nevada to Camp Hale in Colorado as national monuments, restored protections to treasures like Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah, and acted to protect the Tongass National Forest and Bristol Bay in Alaska.
The environmentalist and author Rachel Carson once wrote: “Those who contemplate the beauty of the Earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”; Today, we renew that strength to keep building on our progress. The challenges we face are great, but our capacity is greater. The inspiring passion of young people and climate activists, civil society and Indigenous communities, and thoughtful consumers and forward-thinking businesses is galvanizing the
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 22, 2023, as Earth Day. Today, I encourage all Americans to reflect on the need to protect our precious Earth; to heed the call to combat our climate and biodiversity crises while growing the economy; and to keep working for a healthier, safer, more equitable future for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Our Nation has made tremendous progress in advancing the cause of equality for LGBTQI+ Americans. To keep building on that progress, we must reflect honestly on the darkest chapters of our story and on how far we have come. Seventy years ago, as the Cold War set in, President Eisenhower signed an Executive Order banning LGBTQI+ Americans from serving in the Federal Government. This action codified a shameful chapter in our Nation’s history known as the “Lavender Scare.”; It was a decades-long period when 5,000 to 10,000 LGBTQI+ Federal employees were investigated, were interrogated, and lost their jobs simply because of who they were and whom they loved.
On this anniversary, we acknowledge the importance of telling the complete history of our Nation, reflecting on the lives changed by this discrimination, honoring the courageous Americans who fought to end this injustice, and celebrating the contributions of today’s proud LGBTQI+ public servants—including members of our Armed Forces.
Our Nation was founded on the sacred idea that all of us are created equal and deserve to be treated equally under our laws. But for so many members of the LGBTQI+ community, hate, discrimination, and isolation throughout our country’s history have denied them the full promise of America. The Lavender Scare epitomized—and institutionalized—this injustice. As LGBTQI+ employees were forced out of the workforce, the Federal Government attempted to defend its policies by propagating false and hateful stereotypes—accusing this community of being a threat to our national security and unworthy of public trust. Employees who were fired under these policies often lost future employment, other opportunities, and even relationships with their own families. Many endured poverty and public disgrace. Some took their own lives as a result of the trauma they had to bear.
While this is a story of profound injustice, it is also a story of remarkable bravery. From seeking relief in the courts to picketing in front of the White House, activists stood up for their rights and helped lay the foundation for the modern-day LGBTQI+ civil rights movement. One such trailblazer was Franklin Kameny, an Army astronomer, who after being fired because he was gay, dedicated over 50 years of his life to activism and helping LGBTQI+ workers stand up for their rights. In 2009, I was proud to meet Frank Kameny in the Oval Office as President Obama and I officially expanded many Federal benefits to same-sex partners of Government employees.
I am equally proud to have mandated additional protections for the fundamental rights of LGBTQI+ Americans. I have appointed barrier-breaking LGBTQI+ leaders to the highest levels of Government, including the first openly gay Senate-confirmed Cabinet Secretary, the first two openly transgender Americans to be confirmed by the United States Senate, and the first open lesbian to achieve the rank of Ambassador. When Americans tune in to the daily White House press briefing, they see the first openly gay White House Press Secretary representing my Administration on the world stage.
But this is just the beginning. I rescinded the discriminatory ban on transgender service members, paving the way for these brave Americans to once again serve openly in the United States military. I signed an Executive Order on Advancing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce, taking additional steps to ensure that LGBTQI+ public servants are treated with dignity and respect. I also signed a landmark Executive Order charging the Federal Government to prevent and combat discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. Federal agencies have since strengthened or clarified protections for LGBTQI+ Americans in housing, health care, education, employment, credit and lending services, and the criminal justice system. Just last year, I proudly signed the Respect for Marriage Act to defend the rights of LGBTQI+ and interracial couples.
The struggle for equal justice is not over. Today and in each generation, we must rededicate ourselves to ending the hatred and discrimination that LGBTQI+ Americans continue to face. That includes addressing a wave of discriminatory laws that target them—especially transgender children—and that echo the hateful stereotypes and stigma of the Lavender Scare. My Administration is standing firmly with brave LGBTQI+ Americans to push back against these injustices.
Great nations face their history openly and honestly: the good, the bad, and the truth. Today, we make our message simple to every public servant who suffered from the un-American policies and discrimination of the Lavender Scare: We see your sacrifices. We acknowledge what you lost and what you wrongfully endured. I have mandated my Administration to do all we can to write a new chapter of our American story that will demonstrate our abiding commitment to equal rights, respect for human dignity, and limitless opportunity for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 27, 2023, as the 70th Anniversary of the Lavender Scare. I call upon government officials and the people of the United States of America to honor the contributions of LGBTQI+ public servants, to recognize the
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
A record 160 million Americans get up and go to work every day to provide for their families, build their communities, and earn a piece of the American Dream. But too many are exposed to unsafe working conditions, injured, or even killed in preventable accidents on the job. And millions of firefighters, police officers, and other first responders put their lives on the line as a matter of course to keep the rest of us safe. We need to have their backs. On Workers Memorial Day, we honor every American worker who has sacrificed their own life or well-being; we stand with the unions that fight for them every day; and we recommit to protecting the fundamental right to a safe and healthy workplace.
I ran for office to restore the backbone of America—the middle class—and I am proud to be the most pro-labor President in history. The middle class built this country, and union workers built the middle class. Nearly every law protecting workers’ rights passed because unions fought for it. That includes the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which took effect 51 years ago today, laying the groundwork for foundational health, safety, and whistleblower protections that continue to protect workers nationwide.
My Administration has built on that legacy from the start, securing $200 million in American Rescue Plan funding to help keep workers safe and guarantee paid sick leave during the COVID–19 pandemic. We protected pensions for millions of workers and retirees so that hardworking Americans can enjoy the healthy and stable retirement they worked their whole lives to secure. The historic infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy laws that I signed as part of our Investing in America agenda are spurring billions of dollars in private investments and helping to create millions of good-paying jobs while requiring strong labor practices like prevailing wages, expanding Registered Apprenticeships, and protecting benefits for coal miners with black lung disease. Throughout, we have stood against union busting and supported striking workers, who fight for better pay and safer conditions. We have cracked down on wage theft and worker misclassification so employers cannot avoid paying fair wages or full benefits. We are making it easier for workers to report abuses and unsafe working conditions, even if they are undocumented—improving safety, boosting pay, and raising standards for everyone.
At the same time, my Administration has strengthened workplace safety enforcement and training, hiring hundreds of new workplace inspectors and increasing site visits by 30 percent. We launched a program to inspect workplaces for extreme heat, which can harm construction, farm, factory, warehouse, delivery, and other workers. We have invested more than $100 million in training farm workers to avoid injuries. And we have fought for first responders by cracking down on toxic PFAS—the so-called “forever chemicals”; that have been used for years to produce firefighting equipment and fire suppression agents, making firefighters sick—and funding research into PFAS alternatives. I also signed bills qualifying more than 10,000 Federal firefighters for critical workers’ compensation and extending tax-free retirement benefits to firefighters permanently disabled on the job and to families of late firefighters who faced trauma. My latest Budget would invest $430 million more to help Federal agencies promote safe worksites, protect benefits, increase penalties for labor violations, and end child labor for good. Our Administration has worked across the board to expand access to health care through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, saving millions of families $800 a year each on premiums. Today, more Americans have health insurance than ever before in our history.
We have more to do. For starters, the United States is still one of the only countries in the world that does not guarantee paid sick leave, forcing too many workers to have to choose between a paycheck and caring for a sick or injured loved one or for themselves. The Congress needs to pass sick days for all and a national paid leave program right away to change that.
A safe and healthy workplace is fundamental. In the United States of America, no one should have to risk their lives just to make a living. Today, we honor those workers who put it all on the line, and we keep their families in our hearts. We celebrate the whistleblowers and union organizers whose courage and persistence has saved countless lives, and we join them in standing up for all American workers, who are the best in the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 28, 2023, as Workers Memorial Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate service, community, and education programs and ceremonies in memory of those killed or injured due to unsafe working conditions.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, our Nation celebrates the diversity of cultures, breadth of achievement, and remarkable contributions of these communities; of brave immigrants who, motivated by the promise of possibilities, picked up their lives and found new homes here; of native peoples who have stewarded these lands since time immemorial; and of community leaders shaping a brighter future for us all. Throughout our history, they have represented the bigger story of who we are as Americans and embodied the truth that our diversity is our strength as a Nation.
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AA and NHPIs) represent us at every level of government, including Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Vice President of South Asian descent; Ambassador Katherine Tai, the first Asian American United States Trade Representative; and Dr. Arati Prabhakar, who is the first South Asian American to lead the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Earlier this year, I was also proud to nominate Julie Su to serve as the Secretary of Labor. From historic Oscar-winning performances in film to achievements across business, culture, sports, and civil rights, AA and NHPIs shape and strengthen the fabric of this Nation. We see their contributions as business owners and caregivers as well as their service in the military and on the frontlines during the COVID–19 pandemic.
Despite the immeasurable ways AA and NHPIs enrich this country, we continue to see persistent racism, harassment, and hate crimes against these communities. Attacks on Asian American women and elders, have left too many families afraid to leave their homes and too many loved ones traumatized. The devastating murder of eight victims in Atlanta, six of whom were women of Asian descent, pierced the soul of this Nation. This year, after the shootings in Monterey Park and Half Moon Bay, both the Vice President and I visited California to honor the victims; grieve with the community; and witness their resilience, heroism, and courage. Hate must have no safe harbor in America, and every person deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. To address the rising tide of anti-Asian violence, I signed the bipartisan COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act into law—which included the Jabara-Heyer No HATE Act, making it easier for Americans to report hate crimes and to help State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies better track these hateful acts.
This year I was proud to launch the first-ever National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Communities. This plan reflects my Administration’s commitment to improving the lives of AA and NHPIs—ensuring that the census collects accurate data so they are properly reflected when new policy is made; advancing safety, inclusion, and belonging for AA and NHPI communities; promoting language access and
We are also creating economic opportunities for AA and NHPI workers and business owners. The Small Business Administration has distributed nearly $16 billion in loans to AA and NHPI entrepreneurs since I took office. I was proud to sign Executive Orders to ensure the Federal workforce reflects the diversity of the American people. Our efforts are paying off. In the Asian American community, unemployment has fallen by more than half since I took office, and as of 2021, entrepreneurship had risen at the fastest rate in over a decade.
As we make progress to advance equity and opportunity, we know our work is far from done. To help more AA and NHPIs see themselves in the story of America, I signed historic legislation bringing us closer to creating the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. To honor the traditional practices and ancestral pathways of Pacific Island voyagers, I expanded protections for the Pacific Remote Islands. To help Americans reckon with and learn from more shameful chapters of our history, I signed into law the Amache National Historic Site Act, which establishes a memorial to the 10,000 Japanese Americans who were unjustly incarcerated at Amache during World War II. Facing past wrongs helps us build a more just and equitable future.
This country’s fundamental promise holds that every person is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives. We have never fully lived up to that ideal, but we have never walked away from it either. This month, we renew our work to put the American Dream within reach of all people, and we celebrate the vibrancy, contributions, and future of AA and NHPI communities across America.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the history of AA and NHPIs and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
This month, we celebrate the enduring heritage of Jewish Americans, whose values, culture, and contributions have shaped our character as a Nation. For generations, the story of the Jewish people—one of resilience, faith, and hope in the face of adversity, prejudice and persecution—has been woven into the fabric of our Nation’s story. It has driven us forward in our ongoing march for justice, equality, and freedom as we recommit to upholding the principles of our Nation’s founding and realizing the promise of America for all Americans.
For centuries, Jewish refugees fleeing oppression and discrimination abroad have sailed to our shores in search of sanctuary. Early on, they fought for religious freedom, helping define one of the bedrock principles upon which America was built. Union soldiers celebrated Passover in the midst of the Civil War. Jewish suffragists fought to expand freedom and justice. And Jewish faith leaders linked arms with giants of the Civil Rights Movement to demand equal rights for all.
Jewish Americans continue to enrich every part of American life as educators and entrepreneurs, athletes and artists, scientists and entertainers, public officials and activists, labor and community leaders, diplomats and military service members, public health heroes, and more. Last year, I was proud to host the White House’s first-ever Jewish New Year reception. During our Hanukkah celebration, I was also proud to unveil the first-ever permanent menorah at the White House—reinforcing the permanency of Jewish culture in America. In my own life, the Jewish community has been a tremendous source of friendship, guidance, and strength through seasons of pain and seasons of joy.
But there is also a dark side to the celebrated history of the Jewish people—a history marked by genocide, pogrom, and persecution—with a through line that continues in the record rise of antisemitism today. We have witnessed violent attacks on synagogues, bricks thrown through windows of Jewish businesses, swastikas defacing cars and cemeteries, Jewish students harassed on college campuses, and Jews wearing religious attire beaten and shot on streets. Antisemitic conspiracy theories are rampant online, and celebrities are spouting antisemitic hate.
These acts are unconscionable and despicable. They carry with them terrifying echoes of the worst chapters in human history. Not only are they a strike against Jews, but they are also a threat to other minority communities and a stain on the soul of our Nation. I decided to run for President after I saw this hatred on display during the rally in Charlottesville, when neo-Nazis marched from the shadows spewing the same antisemitic bile that was heard in Germany in the 1930s. These incidents remind us that hate never truly goes away—it only hides until it is given just a little oxygen. It is our obligation to ensure that hate can have no safe harbor in America and to protect the sacred ideals enshrined in our Constitution: religious freedom, equality, dignity, and respect. That is the promise of America.
I have made clear that I will not remain silent in the face of this antisemitic venom, vitriol, and violence. During my first year in office, I signed the bipartisan COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act to help State and local law enforcement better identify and respond to hate crimes. I appointed Deborah Lipstadt, a historian of the Holocaust, as the first Ambassador-level Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. And my Administration also secured the largest increase in funding ever for the physical security of nonprofits, including synagogues, Jewish Community Centers, and Jewish day schools.
At my direction, we are also developing the first national strategy to counter antisemitism that outlines comprehensive actions the Federal Government will undertake and that reflects input from over a thousand Jewish community stakeholders, faith and civil rights leaders, State and local officials, and more. This strategy will help combat antisemitism online and offline, including in schools and on campuses; improve security to prevent antisemitic incidents and attacks; and build cross-community solidarity against antisemitism and other forms of hate.
But governance alone cannot root out antisemitism and hate. All Americans—including business and community leaders, educators, students, athletes, entertainers, and influencers—must help confront bigotry in all its forms. We must each do our part to put an end to antisemitism and hatred and create a culture of respect in our workplaces, schools, and homes and across social media.
This Jewish American Heritage Month, let us join hands across faiths, races, and backgrounds to make clear that evil, hate, and antisemitism will not prevail. Let us honor the timeless values, contributions, and culture of Jewish Americans, who carry our Nation forward each and every day. And let us rededicate ourselves to the sacred work of creating a more inclusive tomorrow, protecting the diversity that defines who we are as a Nation, and preserving the dignity of every human being—here at home and around the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Jewish American Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to learn more about the heritage and contributions of Jewish Americans and to observe this month with appropriate programs, activities, and ceremonies.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Modern building codes help to ensure that our homes, schools, workplaces, and gathering spots are safely constructed and secure, keeping the power on, our country strong, and our lives moving forward. During National Building Safety Month, we recommit to helping every community in America make all of its structures safer, more sustainable, and more resilient for the future.
From planning and design to construction and renovation, many buildings are safer today than they were decades ago. But nearly two-thirds of Americans live in communities that have not yet adopted the latest building codes, which are designed to avoid damages and keep emerging threats like climate change from further devastating communities with increasingly powerful fires, floods, and storms. We need to do more to help everyone prepare for and prevent disasters; to promote building safety; and to support our too-often overlooked engineers, construction workers, and code enforcement inspectors, who do so much every day to keep Americans safe.
My Administration has taken major steps in that direction. Last year, we launched a new National Initiative to Advance Building Codes, designed to help State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments adopt the latest building standards. With our once-in-a-generation infrastructure law, we are rebuilding the Nation’s roads, bridges, ports, water systems, and more; we are investing over $50 billion to weatherize American homes and to help protect communities against droughts, heat, and floods; and we are replacing toxic lead pipes in 10 million homes and 400,000 schools or child care centers so every American can turn on the faucet and drink clean water. We are also investing in training workers to meet and enforce new standards.
The Inflation Reduction Act, meanwhile, is America’s biggest-ever investment in fighting climate change, providing $1 billion to help States and localities adopt building energy codes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It invests another nearly $1 billion to improve energy efficiency and indoor air quality in federally-supported housing and make these properties more resilient to climate impacts. At the same time, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has helped rebuild communities devastated by floods, fires, tornadoes, and hurricanes while incentivizing the use of low-carbon materials when rebuilding. Across the board, we have committed to sending 40 percent of the benefits of certain Federal investments—including investments in clean energy, energy efficiency, affordable housing, and pollution reduction—to disadvantaged communities, which too often have been left out and left behind.
Regularly-updated building codes and tough enforcement are key to safety—but we can each do our part to build a stronger, more resilient America. To keep your homes safe, we urge all Americans to change the batteries in your smoke alarms; to regularly check that your appliances, vents, plumbing, and electrical systems are working; and to keep an eye out for mold and pests that can make loved ones sick. If you
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Building Safety Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, businesses, nonprofits, and other interested groups to join in activities that raise awareness about building safety. I also call on all Americans to learn more about how they can contribute to building safety at home, at work, and in their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
The more than 391,000 American children and youth living in foster care deserve to grow up in safe and loving homes devoted to their health, happiness, and advancement. This month, we honor the absolute courage of young people in foster care, who too often endure challenges that no child should ever have to confront, and we give thanks to the dedicated kinship and foster parents who care for them during their times of greatest need. We recognize the biological parents and families of foster children who work hard to overcome difficult circumstances so they can safely reunite with their children. We also rededicate ourselves to supporting the volunteers and professionals who help America’s foster youth find temporary and permanent homes.
Despite the selflessness and service of loving foster parents across the country, children in foster care often face an uphill battle in achieving their full potential. Many carry lasting physical and emotional scars from trauma they experienced at a young age, which can increase their risk of mental health issues or lead to substance use disorders. These challenges are magnified for children of color, who are disproportionately represented in the child welfare system: 1 in 9 Black children and 1 in 7 Native American children spend part of their childhood in foster care. Meanwhile, recent estimates suggest 30 percent of youth in foster care identify as LGBTQI+.
To fulfill our Nation’s responsibility to our children, we need to prevent the conditions that lead to kids entering foster care in the first
For children and youth already in the foster care system, we must continue finding them loving temporary homes and, ultimately, safe and supportive permanent homes. My Administration is working to help States place more children with relatives and other trusted adults instead of in group homes. We are seeking to make it easier for biological parents to safely reunite with their children by providing these families with legal representation to help them navigate the complex child welfare system.
To make adoption and legal guardianship more manageable for families who could otherwise create safe and supportive homes, I have called for the adoption tax credit to be made fully refundable and proposed extending it to legal guardians—including grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives. This would provide more breathing room to the kinship caregivers currently raising nearly one-third of all children in the foster care system, and it would also help reduce racial inequities in our country’s child welfare system.
To further increase the number of loving families who can take in foster children, I issued an Executive Order removing barriers and combating biases that make it harder for LGBTQI+ families to foster and adopt. At the same time, we are working with State child welfare agencies to make sure LGBTQI+ youth are placed in supportive environments that see and value them for who they are.
Since coming to office, my Administration has worked hand-in-hand with States to help youth aging out of the foster care system to stay in school, participate in job training programs, pay their bills, and transition to adulthood. I have also expanded the Military Parental Leave Program, which enables service members to spend needed time with their families following a child’s birth, adoption, or placement in long-term foster care. My latest Budget calls for $9 billion to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 youth exiting foster care annually—a key step in helping them secure stable housing during this difficult transition. I have also called for an additional $1 billion to help youth aging out of foster care find a job, enroll in and afford higher education, obtain basic necessities, and access preventative health care.
One of my great privileges during my career in public service has been meeting some of the remarkable young people in foster care and their foster parents. I have seen what good foster care can do. Despite the challenges that no young person should ever have to face, loving foster families can help children become independent, confident, successful
This National Foster Care Month, we express our gratitude to every loving foster parent in America, and we acknowledge every young person navigating the child welfare system, unsure of what the future might hold. You can succeed, and my Administration will do all it can to provide you with the tools and resources you need and the secure, respectable upbringing you deserve to create a meaningful life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Foster Care Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by reaching out in their neighborhoods and communities to the children and youth in foster care and their families, to those at risk of entering foster care, and to kin families and other caregivers.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Mental Health Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of millions of Americans living with mental health conditions, and we celebrate the loved ones and mental health professionals who are there for them every day. Treatment works, and there is no shame in seeking it. Together, we will keep fighting to get everyone access to the care they need to live full and happy lives.
As Americans, we have a duty of care to reach out to one another and leave no one behind. But so many of our friends, colleagues, and loved ones are battling mental health challenges, made worse by the isolation and trauma of COVID–19. Two in five adults report anxiety and depression, and two in five teens describe experiencing persistent sadness or hopelessness, exacerbated by social media, bullying, and gun violence. Drug overdose deaths are also near record highs, and suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people. It does not have to be this way.
As President, I released a new national strategy to transform how we understand and address mental health in America—supporting and
The United States has long faced a shortage of mental health providers. It takes an average of 11 years to get treatment after the onset of symptoms, and less than half of Americans struggling with mental illness ever receive the care they need. This is especially true in rural and other underserved communities. That is why the American Rescue Plan made our Nation’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs—recruiting, training, and supporting more providers at the State and local levels, including in our schools. Last year, when we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years, it contained measures to further increase the number of school psychologists and counselors available to our kids, to make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health care, and to expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care. Additionally, we have invested in training more first responders to address mental health-related issues.
Last year, we also launched 988 as the Nation’s new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline so anyone in the midst of a crisis can receive life-saving confidential help right away. We added dedicated counselors trained in supporting LGBTQI+ youth to the 988 lifeline, and for veterans, we made it easier to reach the Veterans Crisis Line by dialing 988 and pressing 1 to reach trained crisis responders. We created a separate Maternal Mental Health Hotline to help mothers navigate mental health issues like postpartum depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders, which affect one in five pregnant and postpartum women. Far too often, these disorders go undiagnosed and untreated, so we have invested in programs that bolster screening and treatment and call specific attention to them during Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which we also observe this month. Finally, we have passed historic laws that further require insurers to cover mental health care as they would any other kind of treatment, that lower prescription drug costs, and that expand health coverage generally. I am proud that we have seen historic health insurance coverage gains since I took office.
At the same time, we are fighting to expand access to prevention and treatment for substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder, which have devastated so many families and communities. This includes expanding access to mental health and substance use treatment in jails and prisons and during reentry to support people when they return home. And last year, we passed a law making it easier for doctors to prescribe effective addiction treatment. Anyone suffering should know they are not alone: We believe in recovery, and we celebrate the courage of the 23 million Americans who have come so far down that road.
We are also expanding mental health care for service members and veterans, to better honor our sacred obligation to the troops we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families when they are home. We cannot keep losing 17 veterans a day to the silent scourge of suicide. My Administration is increasing access to mental health
There is much more to do. For one, we must finally hold social media companies accountable for the experiments they are running on our children for profit. I have called on the Congress to limit the personal data that tech companies collect, to ban targeted advertising directed at minors, and to require social media platforms to put health and safety first, especially for kids.
We all have a role to play in ending the stigma around mental health issues. It starts by showing compassion, so everyone feels free to ask for help. If you are facing a crisis, dial 988 to reach the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you are a new or expecting mother, you can call 1–833–9–HELP4MOMS for confidential professional advice. If you are feeling overwhelmed or just need someone to talk to, ask your healthcare provider, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s National Helpline at 1–800–662–HELP, or visit www.FindSupport.gov. If someone you know is going through a tough time, reach out and tell them you are there for them. We are all in this together.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Mental Health Awareness Month. I call upon citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to join in activities and take action to strengthen the mental health of our communities and our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Forty years ago, our Nation observed its first National Physical Fitness and Sports Month to promote the benefits of exercising and leading a healthy lifestyle. Since then, we have learned more about how physical activity can improve mental health, reduce the risk of disease, and foster social connection. This month, we recommit to making fitness accessible in every community and encourage all Americans to adopt healthy habits that strengthen our bodies and minds and increase the prospect of a long and healthy life.
Studies show that regular exercise can have a dramatic impact on our health, lowering the likelihood of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer. It also improves memory and sleep, increases our ability to focus, and reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. This is particularly important for people most affected by diet-related diseases, including communities of color, people living in rural areas and territories, people with disabilities, older adults, LGBTQI+ people, military families, and veterans. For young people, sports can also be a great way to build leadership skills, learn teamwork, forge friendships, and foster mental health.
But too often, obstacles prevent Americans from getting the exercise they need. Less than half of Americans live within a half-mile of a park. Adults who work multiple jobs or take care of family members have less time to pursue an active lifestyle. Low-income families typically have less access to safe streets and playgrounds. Youth sports leagues can be unaffordable, leaving students with few fitness options if their school cuts back on physical education.
No one’s health should suffer because exercise opportunities are too expensive or because outdoor spaces are too far away. That is why I released a National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health to make America a stronger, healthier Nation. I am also working with the Congress to make outdoor spaces more accessible by increasing the number of parks around our country and expanding opportunities for people to travel to national parks and other public lands. We have partnered with State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to improve community access to parks and spaces within our communities where people can be physically active. And to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our Nation’s kids, my Administration has been working with summer schools and after-school programs to expand physical education opportunities. We’ve also invested $800 million into communities across the country to help redesign roads and make sidewalks and crosswalks safer for people to walk, bike, and roll. My Administration has also partnered with business, civic, academic, and philanthropic leaders who have committed billions of dollars to take on projects like improving physical education curricula and taking children on trips to national parks.
But we must do more. That is why I launched the White House Challenge to End Hunger and Build Healthy Communities. This initiative encourages all sectors of society to make bold and impactful commitments to offer Americans more opportunities to be physically active in their schools and communities. I also recently announced my upcoming appointments to the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition, which promotes access to healthy foods and physical activity for all Americans. Those appointees include prominent athletes, anti-hunger and nutrition advocates, health care professionals, and other leaders.
In addition, my Administration continues to support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s “Active People, Healthy Nation”; initiative, which provides local governments, schools, and community organizations with a blueprint to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. We are also supporting the Department of Health and Human Services’ “Move Your Way”; campaign, which informs Americans about the newest guidance on staying healthy through physical activity.
This month, I encourage all Americans to find ways to be active, whether it is taking a walk or hike, joining a gym, trying a new fitness class, signing up for a local sports team, or registering for a community race. I also call on State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments, as well as business leaders, to make physical activity more accessible to all. When we invest in our health, we foster healthy homes, more productive communities, and a more resilient society for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. I call upon the people of the United States to make daily physical activity a priority, to support efforts to increase access to sports opportunities in their communities, and to pursue physical fitness as an essential part of healthy living.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On this 60th anniversary of Older Americans Month, we honor our Nation’s senior citizens, whose lifetimes of hard work, devotion to family, and commitment to community have laid the foundation for the country we are today. We have a rock-solid responsibility to ensure our Nation’s seniors can age with dignity and financial security.
When President John F. Kennedy issued the first proclamation recognizing older Americans, approximately a third of seniors lived in poverty, and close to half were without health insurance. Our Nation rallied together to confront this crisis, passing Medicare to deliver affordable, quality health care to our seniors; strengthening Social Security, the bedrock of American retirement; and ultimately raising so many seniors out of poverty. We extended lifespans and provided critical breathing room to Americans who had worked hard their whole lives. But there is still more work to do to ensure that no senior lies in bed at night wondering how they are going to pay for lifesaving drugs, put food on the table, or support their children and grandchildren.
That is one reason why I signed the Inflation Reduction Act. For those on Medicare, this law caps the cost of insulin at $35 per month and will cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs at $2,000 per year. That means seniors could save upwards of tens of thousands of dollars on lifesaving drugs—including for cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and more. It also means Americans can get vaccinated for free against shingles, whooping cough, tetanus, and other diseases. And by holding
At the same time, standing by our seniors means honoring our Nation’s fundamental promise that when it comes time to retire after working hard and contributing to our economy, Social Security and Medicare will be there for you. I am committed to defending these vital programs—a lifeline for millions of seniors—which is why my newest Budget extends the life of the Medicare Trust Fund by at least 25 years. And I will veto any effort to deny older Americans the benefits they have earned.
We must keep building on this progress. Older Americans should be able to live, work, and participate in their communities with dignity. That’s why I recently signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. I call on the Congress to expand on the investments we have already made to help seniors receive care in their own homes and to support family caregivers—including aging caregivers—and the home care workers who perform selfless work every day. I also call on the Congress to expand access to nutrition counseling for seniors and others with Medicare coverage, to increase funding for nutrition services for older adults, and to pilot coverage of medically tailored meals in Medicare—actions that are also part of my Administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. We need to improve the quality and safety of nursing homes and protect vulnerable residents and the health care heroes who care for them. And we must keep pushing to end cancer as we know it and win the fight against other deadly diseases that deny us time with those we love most.
Older Americans are the pillars of our community, and we owe it to them to value their wisdom, celebrate their contributions, and champion their well-being. To older Americans across this Nation, we will always support you.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 2023 as Older Americans Month. This month and beyond, I call upon all Americans to celebrate older adults for their contributions, support their independence, and recognize their unparalleled value to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Powerful hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms can devastate our communities, threaten the lives of our families, and damage everything we have worked so hard to build. During National Hurricane Preparedness Week, we raise awareness about the hazards posed by hurricanes and share resources to help Americans stay safe and protect their property before these storms make landfall. We also celebrate the remarkable first responders and community members who help rescue, recover, and rebuild in the aftermath of these natural disasters.
During last year’s hurricane season, especially in Florida and Puerto Rico, we witnessed the overwhelming damage these storms so often leave in their wake. Families lost their homes. Business owners lost their livelihoods. Survivors were left with unimaginable grief. As the climate crisis intensifies, the impacts of storm surges, flooding, mudslides, and heavy rainfall will only increase, and communities that lack the resources to respond and recover will be hit hardest.
That is one reason why I signed the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which will keep Americans safer from natural disasters by building stronger roads and bridges, improving levees and floodwalls, and making our power grid more resilient. This law includes over $50 billion to shore up our defenses against flooding and other weather and climate disasters. It provides States with billions of dollars to prepare evacuation routes and improve other at-risk coastal infrastructure. It also invests in community-wide planning to ensure that those most impacted by extreme weather have a voice in preparing for the future.
Our Inflation Reduction Act takes these efforts a step further, making the largest investment in our Nation’s history to combat climate change. With historic funding for green manufacturing, clean energy development, and climate-smart agriculture, this law puts us on a path to cut America’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by 2030. It gives families tax credits to make their homes more energy efficient, saving money and helping ensure that the power stays on when the grid goes down. And it provides the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with billions of dollars to improve weather forecasting and invest in resilience projects in coastal communities that will help them more easily recover from extreme weather events.
These actions build on our efforts to ensure communities consider climate resilience as they plan for the future—from modernizing building codes so that structures are more protective and less pollutive to harnessing the power of ecosystems like reefs, beaches, and wetlands, which keep us safer during storms.
These bold investments will benefit our communities for years to come. But as we enter another hurricane season, every American can do their part to plan, prepare, and protect their families. Check your insurance policies to ensure they are up to date. Put your important documents in a location where they are easy to find. Know your local evacuation route, and have an emergency kit ready to go. Help increase
As we prepare, we must also remember and honor the courage, kindness, and resilience of our fellow Americans. As President, I have issued dozens of disaster declarations to support the American people wherever they live, and every time, first responders have worked around the clock to save lives and provide food and shelter. Neighbors, community organizations, and faith groups have opened their doors to people in need. Workers have rebuilt homes, schools, and businesses to make them more resilient to future disasters. Scientists have helped communities adapt and remain safe. Families, having often lost everything, have found the strength to move forward. Time and again, in America’s most trying moments, we are reminded that we are a great Nation because we are a good people.
This National Hurricane Preparedness Week, let us each recommit to doing our part to help safeguard our families, our communities, and our Nation from these devastating natural disasters.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 30 through May 6, 2023, as National Hurricane Preparedness Week. I urge all Americans to help build our climate resilient Nation so that individuals, organizations, and community leaders are empowered to take action to make their communities more resilient to extreme weather and climate change. I call on our Federal, State, Tribal, territorial, and local government agencies to share information that will protect lives and property.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
From barber shops, beauty salons, and pizza parlors to manufacturing companies and mom-and-pop shops, Americans have applied to form a record 10.5 million small businesses in the past 2 years. This week, we celebrate the backbone of our economy and the glue of our communities: our small businesses, which help make our Nation strong.
Nearly half of all private sector workers in our country are employed by small businesses. These businesses also account for almost half of our Nation’s gross domestic product. They create many of the goods and services Americans rely on to sustain their everyday lives. For
Success requires access to capital to meet payroll, pay rent, buy inventory, and grow. Small businesses need resilient supply chains so products can get out the door and arrive on time, and they need high-speed Internet to process transactions and connect with customers around the world. They also need the confidence that, when the going gets tough, support is close by.
When companies were shuttering their doors and laying off workers at the height of the COVID–19 pandemic, my Administration delivered a capital infusion of more than $450 billion to the small business sector to keep Main Streets across America operating and employees on the payroll. To create long-term benefits for our economy, I signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPS and Science Act, and the Inflation Reduction Act. Together, these new laws are creating billions of dollars in contracting opportunities for America’s small businesses and investing hundreds of billions of Federal dollars to rebuild our infrastructure, bring manufacturing back to America, and launch a clean energy revolution right here in the United States.
Our historic investment in semiconductors—the tiny computer chips that power everything from smartphones to cars—will create a manufacturing boom, including for small businesses throughout the semiconductor supply chain. Record funding for clean energy development means small businesses have the opportunity to build electric and other fuel cell vehicles and charging stations. My Administration is committed to investing in America and empowering its small businesses to thrive. I underscored that during my State of the Union Address when I announced new standards that require all construction materials used in these new Federal infrastructure projects to be made in America—ensuring our country’s future is built right here at home.
We need to make sure all American small business owners benefit from these investments. That is why I am committed to improving access to capital, contracts, technical expertise, and financial and legal assistance for small business owners from historically underrepresented communities. Through our State Small Business Credit Initiative, States, territories, and Tribal governments are helping small business owners, including socially and economically disadvantaged entrepreneurs, access billions of dollars in loans and investments. The Small Business Administration is revamping its existing loan programs to expand access to small-dollar loans and increase the number of lenders that offer guaranteed loans, both of which can make a major difference for the smallest businesses and minority- and women-owned businesses that may have trouble accessing capital.
One of the first actions taken by my Administration was to make the Minority Business Development Agency a permanent part of the Department of Commerce. In March, I hosted the second annual Women’s Small Business Summit at the White House, where I announced the establishment of the largest network of Women’s Business Centers ever across America. My Administration has invested nearly $70 million in this network, expanding it to all 50 States for the first time in our history. The centers offer training and mentoring to help women entre
Vice President Kamala Harris has convened small business owners and entrepreneurs across our Nation to inform them about the resources, capital, and support we are offering them. Last year she announced the formation of the new Economic Opportunity Coalition, an alliance of private sector companies and nonprofits committing tens of billions of dollars of investments in community financial institutions and small businesses. In April of this year, she and the Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo announced our new $1.73 billion investment in the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, which provides historically underserved and often low-income communities access to credit, capital, and financial support to grow their businesses.
We are making progress, but I know there is more we can do. I have set a goal to award 15 percent of all Federal contracts to small disadvantaged businesses by 2025, which will bring an estimated additional $100 billion in Federal contracting money to these companies. My new Budget calls for an additional $341 million for the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, and I am seeking an additional $30 million for the Community Navigators Pilot Program—which we have already supported with $100 million—so that local nonprofits, government agencies, and organizations can help new entrepreneurs navigate the complex paperwork involved in applying for small business loans.
Building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down, means investing in America’s small businesses. It means opening up doors of opportunity for doers, dreamers, and job creators who represent the restless, bold, and optimistic American spirit. When we make these investments and support these innovators, our Main Streets thrive, our families have good-paying jobs, and America’s future truly knows no bounds.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 30 through May 6, 2023, as National Small Business Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the American economy, continue supporting them, and honor the occasion with programs and activities that highlight these important businesses.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
When our Founding Fathers convened to write the Constitution over 235 years ago, they set in motion an experiment that changed the world. America would not be a land of kings but a Nation of laws. Since then, generations of Americans have worked to defend and improve our laws, hold accountable those who break or undermine them, and ensure equal rights and protections for all. On Law Day, we celebrate the rule of law and rededicate ourselves to the pursuit of a more perfect Union.
Our Nation and world are at an inflection point. At home and around the globe, autocrats and dictators threaten the rule of law. Our democracy is under strain, with people’s rights, including the sacred right to vote, at risk. We face a choice between moving backward—unravelling so much of the progress our Nation has made—or moving forward toward a future of possibilities and promise.
We must choose to move forward. That is why my Administration is protecting the right to vote—the right from which all others flow, including the power to establish our Nation’s laws. Since taking office, I have issued an Executive Order promoting access to voter registration and election information, and signed into law the Electoral Count Reform Act, which establishes clear guidelines for certifying and counting electoral votes to help preserve the will of the people against future attempts to overturn our elections. The Department of Justice has also strengthened its ability to fight unlawful voter suppression in the courts. I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to further strengthen our democracy.
Respecting the rule of law also means supporting equal access to justice. My Administration reestablished the Department of Justice’s Office for Access to Justice to help ensure that all Americans, regardless of wealth or status, have quality legal aid when they need it and to remove barriers—including language barriers—that prevent people from understanding and navigating the legal system.
We are also working to ensure that hate has no safe harbor in America. I signed the bipartisan COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act into law, making it easier to report hate crimes and helping State, local, and Tribal law enforcement agencies better track these crimes. I secured the largest-ever increase in funding for the physical security of nonprofits, including churches, gurdwaras, mosques, synagogues, temples, and other houses of worship. I convened the first-ever White House Summit on combating hate-fueled violence, bringing together stakeholders from around the country to reaffirm that nobody should fear going to a religious service, wearing a symbol of their faith, or simply being who they are. And I established a new interagency group to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States.
The United States is standing up for the rule of law around the world. We will continue to marshal security, humanitarian, and economic support for Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s unjust war, which is also an attack on the bedrock principle of sovereignty. To support democracy worldwide, I cohosted the second Summit for Democracy in March, bringing together government, civil society, and private sector representatives from around the world to promote transparent and accountable governance, democratic resilience, and respect for human rights. We must support free and independent media, fight the corruption that undermines democratic institutions, ensure new technology is used to strengthen democracy, and defend free and fair elections.
The theme of this year’s Law Day, “Cornerstones of Democracy: Civics, Civility, and Collaboration,”; acknowledges that each of us has a role to play in defending democracy and the guardrails that make it possible. It also recognizes that the rule of law depends on us seeing one another not as enemies but as fellow Americans. This great national experiment only works if we respect each other’s differences, protect each other’s freedoms, and work together to ensure that “We, the People,”; get to choose our own fate and make our own future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in accordance with Public Law 87–20, as amended, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2023, as Law Day, U.S.A. I call upon all Americans to acknowledge the importance of our Nation’s legal and judicial systems with appropriate ceremonies and activities and to display the flag of the United States in support of this national observance.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
America was founded on the sacred proposition that we are all created equal; entitled to be treated with dignity and respect; and deserving of equal access to justice, opportunity, and freedom. On Loyalty Day, we rededicate ourselves to delivering that promise of America to all Americans.
We are a Nation that has sought to encourage and inspire loyalty through our actions. We do that by honoring the Constitution, upholding the rule of law, and respecting free and fair elections. As Americans, we are called to unequivocally condemn political violence and hate-motivated attacks; they have no place in our democracy. We must open the doors of opportunity even wider to others because the promise of this country is big enough for everyone to succeed. And we must
Our democracy has endured for generations because Americans have stood together to defend it. That includes brave service members, veterans, and their families, selfless first responders who protect our communities, and hardworking people of all backgrounds who build our Nation and power our prosperity.
“We, the People,”; are the heirs of a big, complicated country unlike any other in the world. Whoever we are and whatever our job, we all have a part to play in sustaining and advancing this great American experiment by being informed citizens, engaged community members, respectful neighbors, and thoughtful patriots.
Today, we remember that America is a covenant requiring constant care and commitment. Let us agree that upholding democracy must never be a partisan issue but rather an American issue. And let us keep the flame of liberty burning in our time as it did for past generations of Americans—through the fight for our independence; the Civil War; the Great Depression; two World Wars; the Civil Rights Movement; and all the sustained struggles of citizens to make America more prosperous, just, and free.
To celebrate our shared American spirit and the sacrifices so many of our fellow citizens have made, the Congress, by Public Law 85–529, as amended, has designated the first day of May each year as Loyalty Day. On this day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the values that bind us together and honor all those who have defended our freedom and ideals.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 1, 2023, as Loyalty Day. This Loyalty Day, I call upon the people of the United States to join in this national observance, display the American Flag, and pledge allegiance to our Republic for which it stands.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
In periods of peace and prosperity and in times of struggle and strife, countless Americans turn to prayer to seek guidance, bolster our faith, and brace our spirits when we need it most. Prayer is both a personal and communal act—composed of our most intimate thoughts and a practice observed by multitudes across our diverse Nation in every language, culture, religion, and belief system. On this National Day of
The right to pray is enshrined in our Constitution and stamped firmly in the American tradition. The belief that prayer can move mountains is, at its core, a belief in making the impossible possible. There is nothing more American than believing in the endless possibilities of what we can do when we do it together.
Throughout our history, prayer has empowered moral movements and fueled efforts to strengthen our democracy. It was deeply rooted in the fight to abolish slavery and the expansion of voting rights and voter access. And it continues to compel us to uphold our founding creed that all of us are created equal, are made in the image of God, and deserve to be treated with dignity and equality throughout our lives.
We will never fully know how prayer has quietly influenced every aspect of American life—bringing comfort to service members on the battlefield, grounding the spirits of astronauts in space, guiding the healing hands of medical professionals tending to our loved ones, and fortifying the faiths of millions of worshippers in every corner of our Nation. There is hardly an aspect of American life that is not touched by the silent supplications of prayer to fulfill our hopes and our aspirations.
Earlier this year, I was honored to speak at a Sunday service at the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, now pastored by Senator Raphael Warnock. In that sacred place, praying and contemplating Dr. King’s moral vision of a “Beloved Community,”; we were reminded that so much more unites us than divides us. We are all bound together by our love of country and our belief in democracy. Today, I pray that we can see each other as we should: not as enemies but as neighbors, and not as adversaries but as fellow Americans and human beings. Only when we see ourselves in each other will justice, as scripture tells us, “roll down like waters,”; righteousness become “a mighty stream,”; and America fulfill its true promise as a land of liberty and justice for all.
The Congress, by Public Law 100–307, as amended, has called on the President to issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a “National Day of Prayer.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 4, 2023, as a National Day of Prayer. I call upon the citizens of our Nation to give thanks, in accordance with their own faith and conscience, for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, mercy, and protection.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this third day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day, we remember the many lives shattered or lost, and commit to working with Native communities to find justice, keep families safe, and help them heal.
Indian Country has been gripped by an epidemic of missing or murdered Indigenous people, whose cases far too often go unsolved. Families have been left investigating disappearances on their own, demanding justice for their loved ones, and grieving pieces of their souls. Generations of activists and organizers have pushed for accountability, safety, and change. We need to respond with urgency and the resources needed to stop the violence and reverse the legacy of inequity and neglect that often drives it.
When I ran for President, I promised to work across jurisdictions to break this cycle of violence. Under the leadership of Secretary Deb Haaland, the Department of the Interior created a new unit to speed up investigations, bring families closure, and keep Native communities safe. At our 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit, I signed an Executive Order that tasked Federal agencies with investigating the causes of this crisis, collecting better data on these overwhelmingly underreported crimes, and developing a strategy to combat this epidemic, which most often impacts women, girls, LGBTQI+ people in the community, and Two-Spirit Native Americans.
At the 2022 Summit, we built on that progress by announcing that all United States Attorneys’ Offices operating in Indian Country would better prioritize addressing this crisis. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has new personnel focusing specifically on missing and murdered Indigenous cases. The Departments of Justice and Interior are coordinating their efforts to more effectively investigate and prosecute these crimes using trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches. The Department of Justice established a new position devoted to ensuring victims and their families have a voice throughout the criminal justice process.
My Administration is helping Native American survivors and victims’ families pursue justice in Tribal courts too. Last year, I worked with the Congress to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act—a law that I first wrote as a United States Senator over 30 years ago to end the scourge of gender-based violence. This time, we expanded recognition of Tribal courts’ jurisdiction over non-Native perpetrators suspected of committing crimes of stalking, sexual assault, child abuse, and sex trafficking on Tribal lands. At the same time, we are investing in shelters and rape crisis centers on Tribal lands, housing and legal assistance for survivors, and trauma-informed training that helps law enforcement and courts be more responsive. We are working to address the underlying causes of violence, from human trafficking to longstanding economic disparities, systemic racism, histor
Our efforts are guided by Indigenous survivors and victims’ families—and by our enduring Nation-to-Nation relationships. That is why we have convened Tribal leaders, law enforcement, service providers, survivors, and family members of missing and murdered people to work together to combat this epidemic and support paths to healing. The United States is also working with the governments of Mexico and Canada, and with Indigenous women leaders from all three countries, to better coordinate our response—all the while ensuring that we uphold our solemn trust and treaty responsibilities, strengthening our Nation-to-Nation ties.
For the thousands of families who have lost or are still looking for a friend or loved one, I know this day is full of purpose and pain. Know that your fight to cast light on these injustices has already saved lives. Our Government has a solemn obligation to ensure that every case of a missing or murdered Indigenous person is met with swift, effective action to finally bring justice and healing. Together, we will get that done.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 5, 2023, as Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons Awareness Day. I call on all Americans and ask all levels of government to support Tribal governments and Tribal communities’ efforts to increase awareness and address the issues of missing or murdered Indigenous persons through appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
In schools across America, teachers are arriving early to set up classrooms, spending long hours educating students, and staying late to prepare tomorrow’s lesson plans. Their devotion to our children embodies the best of America—ready to serve and eager to see others thrive. Today and during this week, we celebrate our Nation’s remarkable teachers and early childhood educators, and we recommit to having their backs, just as they have ours.
In the words of the First Lady, a lifelong educator, teaching is a calling—a way to live out the belief that we can shape our corner of the world, one student at a time. But shaping that world demands a lot.
We owe our teachers and early childhood educators so much. We need to pay them better, improve their working conditions, and focus on recruitment and retention. My Administration’s American Rescue Plan supported early childhood programs and helped K–12 schools across the country re-open, hire more educators, boost salaries, increase mental health services, and expand afterschool and summer programs. Thanks to our investments, public schools across the country have added more than 500,000 educators and staff. Compared with before the pandemic, the number of school social workers nationwide is up 48 percent, the number of school nurses is up 42 percent, and the number of school counselors is up 10 percent.
My Fiscal Year 2024 Budget calls for $600 billion to provide access to high-quality child care and preschool programs so all families can afford to enroll their children and so early childhood educators have higher wages. It would also increase funding for Title I schools—which serve some of the most disadvantaged communities in our Nation—to give teachers a raise and expand their ranks. And it calls on the Congress to increase salaries for Head Start staff and invest $300 million to help address shortages of special education teachers across America.
My Administration has worked to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program—a key step in meeting our commitment to those who have chosen this vital profession and other areas of public service. To date, we have helped over 450,000 public service employees, including teachers, get nearly $31 billion in student loan forgiveness. In many cases, educators have had their entire student debt wiped out.
Supporting our teachers also demands that we keep them and their students safe at school. Last year, I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly three decades, which includes enhanced background checks for individuals under the age of 21 and funding for States to enact red flag laws that can help keep guns from people who are a danger to themselves and others. This law also authorized more than $1 billion to improve student mental health, enabling schools to hire and train thousands of new mental health professionals. Schools should be places to learn, make friends, and feel the support of a real community. No teacher or student should have to wonder whether the goodbye hug they give their loved ones before going to school one day will be their last.
The greatness of a nation is measured in part by how it prepares the next generation to succeed. On National Teacher Appreciation Day and during National Teacher Appreciation Week, we honor the remarkable educators entrusted with this responsibility. As I have traveled the
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 9, 2023, as National Teacher Appreciation Day and May 7 through May 13, 2023, as National Teacher Appreciation Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize the hard work and dedication of our Nation’s teachers and to observe this day and this week by supporting teachers through appropriate activities, events, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Every day, more than 20 million dedicated public servants in small towns and big cities across our Nation go to work to make sure that America works for all of us. From teaching our children and delivering the mail to controlling air traffic in our skies, overseeing our elections, fighting fires, keeping our streets safe, and defending our country in uniform, these remarkable Americans are the lifeblood of our democracy. This week, we honor them and celebrate all they give to this country.
I have had the great privilege of working with public servants who lift up others and so seldom seek recognition or personal acclaim in return. I have also witnessed the sacrifices of families who serve alongside them, like those who uproot their lives every few years when a family member’s job calls on them to find a new home, and law enforcement families who wait bravely for loved ones to come back from their shifts. Public servants embody the timeless creed of this Nation found in the words of President John F. Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”;
At a time when public servants are facing threats and hostility simply for doing their jobs, their continued willingness to serve is even more meaningful and important. We have an obligation to support them and to recognize and value their commitment and sacrifice. Our Nation’s future depends on ensuring our public servants have good jobs with competitive pay and benefits, along with the resources they need to accomplish their work. It also depends on the next generation of smart, dedicated people answering the call of public service and joining their ranks, helping deliver the promise of America to more of our citizens. That is why my American Rescue Plan provided $350 billion to State, Tribal, and local governments to keep public servants on the payroll and make vital new hires—including first responders, teachers, and
Meanwhile, my Administration is taking steps to protect, empower, and rebuild the career Federal workforce. I issued Executive Orders increasing the minimum wage for Federal employees to $15 per hour, making Government jobs more competitive and giving hardworking Americans more breathing room. To ensure public servants reflect the diversity of the communities they serve and to draw on the full range of talent we have across our Nation, I took executive action to protect Federal employees against discrimination on the basis of gender identity or sexual orientation, and launched a Government-wide initiative to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal workforce. And I established a White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment, led by Vice President Harris, to strengthen the right to unionize among Federal Government workers. To ensure that employment in the Federal workforce continues to be based on merit, skill, and experience—and does not become politicized—I have also called for legislation to protect the integrity of the civil service.
Public servants so often come out of school with debt that can take more than a decade to pay off, so my Administration has also worked to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. To date, we have helped over 450,000 public servants—including teachers, first responders, nurses, and members of the military—get nearly $31 billion in loan forgiveness.
These actions are all part of my plan to build a country that rewards work and not just wealth, especially for those who dedicate their lives to improving the lives of others. These are investments in America’s future. When we support our public servants with the recognition and resources they deserve, our loved ones are safer in their communities, our families are more likely to get the high-quality services they need in a timely manner, our economy is stronger, and we put ourselves on a path to win the race for the future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 7 through May 13, 2023, as Public Service Recognition Week. I call upon all Americans to celebrate public servants and their contributions this week and throughout the year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on May 6, 2023, in Allen, Texas, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, May 11, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Today, we are in a different phase of the response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) pandemic than we were in October 2021, when I issued Proclamation 10294 of October 25, 2021 (Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID–19 Pandemic). At the time, new variants of SARS–CoV–2, the virus that causes COVID–19, had emerged globally and my Administration was responding to variants that were more transmissible or caused more severe disease than the original virus strain. Consistent with guidance from our public health experts, I determined that it was in the interests of the United States to adopt an international air travel policy that relied primarily on vaccination to limit the risk that the COVID–19 virus, including variants of that virus, would be introduced, transmitted, and spread into and throughout the United States.
Now, we have successfully marshaled a whole-of-government response to make historic investments in broadly accessible vaccines, tests, and therapeutics to help us combat COVID–19. Our public health experts have issued guidance that allows all travelers to understand mitigation measures to protect themselves and those around them. Our healthcare system and public health resources throughout the country are now
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that, except as provided in any other applicable proclamation, the unrestricted entry of persons described in section 2 of Proclamation 10294 is no longer detrimental to the interests of the United States. I therefore hereby proclaim the following:
Section 1. Revocation. Proclamation 10294, except sections 1, 6, 7, and 8 thereof, is revoked.
Sec. 2. Review of Agency Actions. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (including through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall review any regulations, orders, guidance documents, policies, and any other similar agency actions developed pursuant to Proclamation 10294 and, as appropriate, shall consider revising or revoking these agency actions consistent with the policy set forth in this proclamation.
Sec. 3. Effective Date. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 12, 2023.
Sec. 4. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
The English poet John Milton wrote, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”; Today, we honor the nearly one million military spouses who serve and strengthen our Nation alongside their loved ones in uniform. While navigating the many demands of life in a military family, they remain strong, caring, and resourceful—representing the very best of who we are as Americans.
Like our service members, military spouses know what it means to make sacrifices for our values and freedoms—stepping up every day to shoulder the unique burdens that come with military life. They selflessly care for others, often balancing their responsibilities at home and work while praying that their spouse returns home safely. They bring their diverse talents to all sectors to provide for their families and communities, even in the face of demanding and difficult circumstances. They strive to make birthdays and holidays special, even when there is an empty seat at the dinner table. And during some of life’s toughest moments, military spouses are there for each other—forging lasting friendships grounded in support, service, and selflessness.
Our Nation has many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation: to prepare those we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their families while they are deployed and when they return home—including our military spouses. My Administration is working to ensure we meet this obligation, including through the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, which is committed to supporting military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors. We have broadened pathways to Federal careers for military spouses and started a new program to connect military spouses with private sector employers through paid fellowships. We have expanded scholarship opportunities for many military spouses so they can get professional licenses, certificates, or associate degrees and find good jobs. We are broadening parental leave for service members and increasing access to affordable and dependable child care—including making it easier to save for child care and working to make pre-kindergarten universal at all Department of Defense Education Activity Schools. And as we continue working to ensure military spouses have the resources they need to thrive in all aspects of life, we call upon more communities to hire and support military spouses, harnessing their unique skills, strengths, and experiences.
We have asked so much of our military spouses for so long. Yet every time Jill and I meet with spouses, we are struck by their extraordinary commitment and fortitude. They are the solid steel spine that bears up under every burden and the courageous heart that rises to every challenge, even while their service and sacrifice too often go unsung. Today we pause to lift up their stories, invest in their abilities, and ensure they have the support they need to achieve their aspirations. May God bless our military spouses and families, and may God protect our troops.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 12, 2023, as Military Spouse Appreciation Day. I call upon the people of the United States to honor military spouses with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
To have the world’s strongest military and leading economy, the United States must have the world’s best transportation system. And to achieve that, we must prepare and equip the world’s best workforce to build it. Today and this week, we celebrate the American workers who build our infrastructure, power our economy, bolster our national security, and are the backbone of this Nation. We also recommit to investing in our Nation’s infrastructure and strengthening critical supply chains.
National Defense Transportation Day dates back to 1957, a year after President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the landmark Federal-Aid Highway Act. This law helped build America’s interstate highway system, which is critical to our national security. In the years since, we have seen how modern transportation makes it possible to deploy service members quickly and to ship defense supplies and equipment efficiently. It also means first responders can act fast when a crisis occurs.
The interstate highway system also proved vital to our national prosperity—connecting small towns with big cities, allowing goods to ship to all corners of the country and world, and turning our infrastructure into the envy of the globe. But gradually, we stopped investing in our infrastructure. As we allowed the quality of our roads, bridges, ports, and railways to deteriorate, so too did the reliability of America’s transportation system.
I took office determined to change that. I signed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law—a once-in-a-generation investment in rebuilding America and putting Americans across the country to work doing it. It is the most significant investment in our infrastructure since President Eisenhower. To date, we have already funded more than 25,000 projects—upgrading roads, bridges, and tunnels from California to Ohio to New York; renovating major airports from Massachusetts to Georgia to Oregon; and upgrading our rail infrastructure on the Northeast Corridor, bringing world-class rail to new corners of the country. We are also
Additionally, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest investment in public transit in the history of our country. It improves subways and commuter rail in some of the busiest travel corridors in America, easing traffic congestion and making it easier for people to get where they need to go. Thanks to this law, we will replace thousands of diesel school buses with electric buses so our kids do not have to inhale diesel exhaust fumes, which can make them sick. And we are helping local governments retrofit subway stations so people who need an elevator or ramp can reliably access our rail systems. All told, these actions will improve transit for millions of Americans while reducing emissions.
These investments are part of our mission to build a clean energy future. As part of that effort, we are creating a national network of electric vehicle charging stations across America. In time, finding a place to charge your electric vehicle will be as easy as pulling into a gas station. And our Inflation Reduction Act, the largest investment ever made to tackle climate change, is providing incentives for companies to electrify heavy-duty vehicles and for consumers to buy electric cars and fuel cell vehicles.
As we improve our transportation system, we must make good on our promise that the workers who are designing, building, and maintaining it are seeing the benefits. Many of these new jobs in construction, trucking, and the railroad industry will be union jobs with good pay and good benefits, providing the breathing room American families deserve. We are also investing in workforce development; expanding Registered Apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeship programs; and spurring commitments from employers, unions, and community-based organizations to invest in training and apprenticeships. And we worked hand in hand with the trucking industry to improve safety and job quality through the Biden Trucking Action Plan.
Finally, we are working to rectify our Nation’s past mistakes when it comes to where and how we build new infrastructure. Nearly six decades ago, the expansion of the interstate highway system routed many highways directly through Black and brown communities, destroying entire neighborhoods or cutting them off from economic opportunity. In response, my Administration launched the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program—the first-ever Federal initiative to cap highways and add green spaces in an effort to unify neighborhoods that had been divided. Our goal is to ensure that our investments reach places that have historically been forgotten, opening doors of opportunity and strengthening communities as cranes go up and shovels dig into the ground.
On this National Defense Transportation Day and throughout National Transportation Week, I am proud to say that we are embarking on an infrastructure decade. Our investments to create the world’s best and safest roads, bridges, railroads, ports, airports, and more will make our economy and country stronger. And by empowering America’s workers—who in turn power our national prosperity—we will continue to build an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top
In recognition of the ongoing contributions of our Nation’s transportation system and in honor of the devoted professionals who work to sustain its tradition of excellence, the United States Congress has requested, by joint resolution approved May 16, 1957, as amended (36 U.S.C. 120), that the President designate the third Friday in May of each year as “National Defense Transportation Day”; and, by joint resolution approved May 14, 1962 (36 U.S.C. 133), that the week in which that Friday falls be designated as “National Transportation Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Friday, May 19, 2023, as National Defense Transportation Day; and May 14 through May 20, 2023, as National Transportation Week. I urge all Americans to observe these occasions with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities as we show our appreciation to those who build and operate our Nation’s transportation systems.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Women’s Health Week, our Nation recommits to improving the health and well-being of women and girls across America and encouraging them to make their health a priority.
The White House officially observed its first National Women’s Health Week in 2010, the same year we passed the landmark Affordable Care Act. This law ended the shameful practices of denying women coverage for pre-existing conditions and charging them more for health care simply because they are women. It extended crucial preventive care, like cancer screenings, to millions more Americans and expanded access to basic health services, like maternity care.
As President, I have worked hard to protect the expanded health care coverage provided to millions by the Affordable Care Act and to strengthen Medicaid for those who need it. At the same time, I have acted to improve the well-being of women and their families, including slashing prescription drug prices and saving American families hundreds of dollars a year on health insurance premiums. I am proud that our Nation has seen historic health insurance coverage gains since I took office, and I am working to ensure that health care is a right in our Nation, not a privilege.
But so many women are still denied this right, especially when it comes to making deeply personal decisions about their own bodies and
In response to this crisis, I have issued two Executive Orders to protect a woman’s right to access comprehensive reproductive health care services, including abortion and contraception. My Administration is working to ensure that patients receive care during medical emergencies; safeguard patients’ privacy and their sensitive health information; and promote the safety and security of patients as well as providers, who are delivering the evidence-based, lawful care and treatment that they have been trained to provide. My Administration will continue to defend access to medication abortion and I will also continue to call on the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in Federal law, which would secure the right to choose once and for all.
My Administration is also leading efforts to tackle the maternal health crisis, which has resulted in American women—particularly Black and Native American women—dying at a higher rate from pregnancy-related causes than in any other developed nation. As part of my Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis, we have extended Medicaid postpartum coverage across America and taken steps to grow and diversify the maternal health workforce, and we are working to improve access to care in rural communities and address systemic inequities that put many women at greater risk of pregnancy-related complications.
Vice President Kamala Harris has been a leader on the issue of maternal mortality for years, and she continues to elevate the problem nationally, convening State legislators, medical professionals, and private industry leaders to work together to develop solutions so all women can access the care they need before, during, and after childbirth.
To address the mental health challenges that new and expecting mothers may face, including postpartum depression, anxiety, or substance use disorder, my Administration launched the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline (1–833–TLC–MAMA) and the Maternal Mental Health Task Force, charged with improving maternal mental health in this country. We are making other investments in women’s mental health as well, such as expanding Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, which deliver 24/7 mental health care to millions of Americans, regardless of their ability to pay. And my 2024 Budget proposes spending tens of billions over the next 10 years to transform our behavioral health system.
Standing up for women’s health also means preventing gender-based violence and helping survivors access safety, justice, and healing. Last year, I was proud to reauthorize and strengthen the landmark Violence Against Women Act, which I first introduced in the United States Senate more than 30 years ago. We have increased funding for shelters and rape crisis centers, expanded access to housing and legal assistance for
My Administration is fighting a wave of extreme State policies that target transgender women and girls to prevent or limit access to evidence-based, gender-affirming health care just because of who they are. I have challenged my Administration to address discrimination wherever we find it and to ensure equal access to health care for all Americans.
The First Lady and I are committed to ending cancer as we know it through the reignited Cancer Moonshot, including for the nearly one million American women who will be diagnosed with cancer this year. My Administration increased our investment in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which provides breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services to those with low incomes who are uninsured or otherwise qualify for the program. We are bringing together community health centers and leading cancer centers to facilitate access to life-saving cancer screenings and close the screening gap. We have also created the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA–H) to deliver new, innovative, comprehensive ways to prevent, detect, and treat cancer and other diseases.
In addition, my Administration will continue its work to prevent health conditions that affect women, including heart disease and diabetes. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in this country. My Administration has a national strategy that seeks to improve access to affordable, healthy food; better integrate nutrition into the health care system; support physical activity for all; and enhance research into food and nutrition security. At the same time, experts agree it is important that women get regular checkups, preventive screenings, vaccinations, and mental health care.
This week, we make our message clear to women and girls across America: Your health impacts the future of our Nation. Achieving everything America aspires to be depends on the health, safety, and support we give to all women, who are leaders in every industry, in every community, and in every family.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 14 through May 20, 2023, as National Women’s Health Week. During this week, I encourage all Americans to join us in a collective effort to improve and support the health of women and girls and promote health equity for all. I encourage all women and girls to prioritize their health and catch up on any missed screenings, routine care, and vaccines.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Every day when law enforcement officers pin on their badges, they make an extraordinary commitment to the American people: to rush toward danger regardless of the risk and to faithfully stand up for the rule of law. Across our neighborhoods, towns, and cities, they put themselves in harm’s way, hoping to return home safely to their families. On Peace Officers Memorial Day and during Police Week, we celebrate the remarkable courage of our law enforcement community and honor the fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their fellow Americans.
As a Nation, we expect a lot from our law enforcement officers. They save lives by keeping our roads, subways, and highways safe and responding to domestic violence incidents and natural disasters. We ask them to ensure public safety, build trust within our neighborhoods, and protect the well-being of our communities. Too often, they are also called upon to respond to mass shootings, drug overdoses, mental health crises, and more. Being a law enforcement officer is not just what they do; it is who they are.
The same is true for their families, who sacrifice alongside these heroic Americans. It takes a special person to marry or be the child of a law enforcement officer—knowing the uncertainty as their loved one walks out the door and dreading the possibility of receiving that phone call.
No memorial can ever fill the void left in the hearts of those who have lost a loved one in the line of duty. But their sacrifices in full service to their communities and to our Nation will never be forgotten. We will continue to honor their memories with actions that help keep our law enforcement officers and communities safe from harm.
When I took office at the height of the pandemic, State, local, Tribal, and territorial law enforcement budgets were shrinking. Some agencies were facing their lowest staffing levels in decades, undermining their ability to perform their jobs. That is why we provided crucial funding to help police departments build new training facilities, recruit new personnel, and give officers a raise. I also expanded benefits for first responders who were disabled in the line of duty and their families. And I signed laws improving officer wellness by expanding critical mental health resources to address the physical and emotional trauma that so many members of our law enforcement community experience.
Meanwhile, I have taken steps to keep law enforcement officers safer on the job by signing the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly three decades. It helps keep more guns out of the hands of dangerous people, including by broadening restrictions on domestic abusers, which is critical because domestic violence calls can often turn deadly for police. This law also supports crisis interventions, including extreme risk protection orders, and provides a billion dollars to address the mental health crisis in America. We are also strengthening background checks for 18 to 20-year-olds trying to purchase guns, helping prosecutors
As I have often said, when it comes to keeping our communities safe, the answer is not to defund the police. It is to fund them with the resources and training they need to protect and serve our communities and to build trust with the American public. My Safer America Plan calls on the Congress to invest in recruiting, hiring, and training more than 100,000 additional officers for effective, accountable community policing, consistent with the standards of my policing Executive Order. My plan also invests in programs that send social workers and other professionals to respond to calls that should not be the responsibility of law enforcement. And it invests $5 billion in proven crime-prevention strategies like community violence interruption. We must not accept the false choice between public safety and public trust; they are two sides of the same coin.
At the National Law Enforcement Memorial in Washington, D.C., there is a quote engraved on the wall that reads, “It is not how these officers died that made them heroes, it is how they lived.”; Today, during this week, and year-round, we express our gratitude for the courageous women and men of our Nation’s law enforcement community. We honor the memory of the members who made the ultimate sacrifice and pray for their families. And we recommit ourselves to the sacred task of creating a safer and more just Nation for all Americans.
By a joint resolution approved October 1, 1962, as amended (76 Stat. 676), and by Public Law 103–322, as amended (36 U.S.C. 136–137), the President has been authorized and requested to designate May 15 of each year as “Peace Officers Memorial Day”; and the week in which it falls as “Police Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 15, 2023, as Peace Officers Memorial Day and May 14 through May 20, 2023, as Police Week. I call upon all Americans to observe these events with appropriate ceremonies and activities and salute our Nation’s brave law enforcement officers and remember their peace officer brothers and sisters who have given their last full measure of devotion in the line of duty. I also call on the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day. I further encourage all Americans to display the flag at half-staff from their homes and businesses on that day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Mother’s Day, we celebrate the moms and the women filling the role of a mother in our lives, who bless us with a total sense of what it means to be family. They believe in us so we can believe in ourselves. They sacrifice to give us opportunities they never had. They are there for us at our highest points and our lowest moments, lifting us up when we need it most.
The lessons I learned from my mother, Catherine Eugenia “Jean”; Finnegan Biden, continue to guide me today. She led with honor. She believed everyone deserved to be treated equally. She reminded my siblings and me that failure was inevitable, but giving up was never an option. She would say that courage is the greatest virtue, because without courage, you cannot love with abandon.
My wife, First Lady Jill Biden, has loved our children and grandchildren with abandon as well. She was the glue that helped put our family back together after my boys and I experienced profound loss. Every day, her joy, wisdom, and strength bring light to so many, including the students she teaches full time.
Across the country, mothers are nurturing children, providing for families, and driving innovation in every field. They serve at the highest levels of government, lead our Nation’s military, and power our economy—running some of the biggest companies in the world and operating beloved small businesses on Main Streets across America. At the same time, many mothers work night shifts and jobs that often do not pay them enough to make ends meet and support their families. As moms continue knocking down the barriers that stand in the way of all women and girls reaching their full potential, my Administration is working to give them support and opportunity. Our American Rescue Plan helped keep the doors open for 220,000 child care providers—90 percent of which are owned and staffed by women—so families could go to work while their children were cared for. We expanded the Child Tax Credit and cut child poverty in half during our first year in office. The historic infrastructure, manufacturing, and clean energy laws I signed as part of our Investing in America agenda are creating good-paying jobs for women in sectors where they have been previously underrepresented. And to ensure that new and expecting mothers can thrive in the workplace, I signed into law new protections for pregnant workers and nursing parents in the workplace: the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the Providing Urgent Maternal Protections for Nursing Mothers Act.
Meanwhile, Vice President Kamala Harris is leading the charge to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for all women and to make sure pregnant women and moms in all communities are treated fairly. We released a Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis to lower the rates of maternal mortality and morbidity; reduce disparities in maternal health; and improve the experiences of women before, during, and after birth across the country. Our American Rescue Plan gave States the option to extend Medicaid postpartum coverage for a full
Today, at family gatherings across America, let us give thanks for all the mothers and mother-figures, who we love so much. Let us be sure to make the most of our precious time together. Let us also keep in our prayers those who observe this day with a hole in their heart, missing a mom’s irreplaceable presence and the comfort it brings, as well as the mothers who know the pain of losing a child. Finally, let us continue working to extend our country’s promise of dignity and opportunity to America’s mothers—the least we can do for the people in our lives who have given us the most.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved May 8, 1914 (38 Stat. 770), has designated the second Sunday in May each year as “Mother’s Day”; and requested the President to call for its appropriate observance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 14, 2023, as Mother’s Day. I urge all Americans to express their love, respect, and gratitude to mothers everywhere. I call upon all citizens to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twelfth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Thousands of Americans die every year of viral hepatitis—infections of the liver that can be managed or cured if patients know they are infected and can get treatment. On National Hepatitis Testing Day, we urge Americans to get tested and recommit to ensuring that those who are diagnosed can receive lifesaving care.
Viral hepatitis is a hidden epidemic. For those with hepatitis C, which spreads through contact with infected blood and is the most common strain, it can be years between the time someone is infected and when they first present symptoms, leaving far too many unaware that they are sick. This can further spread the virus, delay treatment, and lead to serious liver disease—including cirrhosis, liver failure, liver cancer, and even death. Pregnant women with untreated hepatitis C can also pass the virus on to their newborns. It disproportionately affects Black Americans and Native Americans, who too often cannot access quality health care, and it is more common among those experiencing homelessness and those who are incarcerated as more than a third of people
My new Budget includes a bold plan to change that this decade—ending hepatitis C as a public health threat by expanding testing, slashing the high cost of treatment, and promoting awareness of the risks and the cure. It draws on work that the Department of Veterans Affairs has done in treating more than 100,000 affected veterans since 2014. My plan would make testing quicker and simpler with more point-of-care diagnostic tests so patients can be tested and treated in a single visit, rather than having to return several times before determining their infection status. It would pioneer innovative approaches to treating hepatitis C, including a national antiviral subscription model, so more Americans can get affordable care and taxpayers can save billions of dollars through prevention and the reduced need for treatment of advanced liver diseases. My plan would also support grassroots public health groups; train more health care professionals; and expand mobile, telehealth, and community sites focused on hepatitis testing and care. And it would boost progress toward a hepatitis C vaccine.
We are also taking steps to prevent hepatitis B—the second most common strain of the virus among adults, which can lead to premature death in 15 to 25 percent of cases. We are fortunate to already have a hepatitis B vaccine; it has been widely recommended for children for over 30 years, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now urges all adults under 60 to be screened and vaccinated too. This is especially important among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities, who account for almost 60 percent of chronic hepatitis B cases in this country.
Working to beat hepatitis is something that all Americans can agree is important. It is within our power to save tens of thousands of lives and billions of dollars in health care costs, and by reducing liver cancer, these steps will also bring us closer to meeting our moonshot goal of ending cancer as we know it, achieving one of the greatest public health victories of all time. Every American can do their part—ask your health care provider about getting tested for hepatitis B and C and about being vaccinated for hepatitis B if you have not yet done so. And ask the Congress to back our push to eliminate the threat of viral hepatitis from the United States for good.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 19, 2023, as National Hepatitis Testing Day. I encourage all Americans to join in activities that will increase awareness about viral hepatitis and what we can do to prevent and treat it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Every year, nearly 100 million Americans go boating in our Nation’s lakes, rivers, bays, and oceans—a number that surged during the pandemic, as more people sought peace outdoors. With summer now approaching, countless families are again drawn to the promise and possibility of time on the water. During National Safe Boating Week, we remind one another to be safe and responsible and to do all we can to prevent boating accidents and prepare for emergencies.
Whether fishing, sailing, canoeing, kayaking, jet skiing, or motor boating, safe boating starts with planning ahead. More than 10 percent of American households now own some kind of boat, and they should each make sure their vessel meets Federal safety standards. The civilian Coast Guard Auxiliary can send volunteers to examine boats for free and tell their owners how to improve safety. Free boating safety courses are available in all 50 States, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary and groups like America’s Boating Club train people online and in-person in boat handling, marine navigation, engine maintenance, weather prediction, and more.
Simple things can be life-saving: life jackets, weather forecasts, maps—especially in unfamiliar areas—and emergency communications tools. Boating sober, without alcohol or drugs, is so important. And every boat operator should always wear their engine-cut-off switch lanyard in order to automatically stop the boat if they are thrown into the water.
Operating a boat is a serious thing, like driving a car. It demands attention and caution, even as it gives boaters a profound feeling of freedom and peace. This week, we thank the courageous members of the United States Coast Guard—along with the Federal, State, Tribal, and local partners—who sacrifice so much to protect boaters and help rescue those in need at a moment’s notice. We should honor their work by each doing our own part to keep life on the water safe.
In recognition of the importance of safe boating practices, the Congress, by joint resolution approved on June 4, 1958 (36 U.S.C. 131), as amended, has authorized and requested the President to proclaim annually the 7-day period before Memorial Day weekend as “National Safe Boating Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 20 through May 26, 2023, as National Safe Boating Week. I encourage all Americans who participate in boating activities to observe this occasion by learning more about safe boating practices and by taking advantage of boating safety education opportunities. I also encourage the Governors of the States and Territories, and appropriate officials of all units of government, to join me in encouraging boating safety in every community.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
Every day, across our country, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, 911 dispatchers, and other first responders rush to fellow Americans’ aid with compassion and lifesaving strength. During Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, we celebrate their service and recommit to getting them the resources and support they need to do their essential frontline work for us all.
The pandemic made every American aware of the absolute courage and incredible sacrifices made by EMS providers nationwide. They have had to work longer hours, taking on new roles and new risks, often at great personal cost—whether braving a deadly virus, rushing to save victims of gun violence, enduring dangerous natural disasters, or simply supporting people at the most vulnerable moments of their lives. We owe them. We have a duty to care for those who care for us.
Since I took office, my Administration has worked to help State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments keep EMS providers on the payroll, buy better equipment, and improve training. We have made resources available to help first responders deal with trauma and burnout. And we are helping to ease the crippling student debt burden that so many EMS providers live with by finally fixing the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. I am proud that, to date, we have helped over 450,000 public service employees, including EMS providers, see billions of dollars in student loans erased. Meanwhile, we are working to ease staffing shortages by making it easier for fire departments to retain and recruit more firefighters, who often provide emergency medical services so other first responders will not be stretched thin.
Saving lives is not just what tireless EMS providers do—it is who they are. I have seen their commitment up close. They are the steel spine of our Nation, and they give each of us the peace of mind of knowing that someone will be there to catch us if we fall.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 21 through May 27, 2023, as National Emergency Medical Services Week. I call upon public officials, doctors, nurses, paramedics, EMS providers, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to honor our brave EMS workers and to pay tribute to the EMS providers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
My Administration is committed to building an economy from the bottom up and middle out, ensuring every worker gets a fair shot at the American Dream. Global trade is a key part of making that dream a reality. By expanding markets around the world for American businesses and crafting rules for fair competition, we can empower our workers, protect our planet, and promote inclusive prosperity. During World Trade Week, we recommit to writing a new story on trade—a worker-centered story—where everyone has dignity and opportunity and no one is left behind.
This new story begins with investing in America. For decades, the middle class and thriving towns across America were hollowed out as good-paying jobs moved overseas and factories at home closed down. My Administration is changing that. Through our blue-collar blueprint for America, we have created more than 12 million jobs and brought unemployment down to its lowest rate in more than 50 years. Across the country, we are witnessing a manufacturing boom, and factories are coming back to America to produce the semiconductors that power everything from cellphones and automobiles to the technology that will power our clean energy future. In every State, construction is underway to rebuild our roads, bridges, ports, airports, and water systems.
These investments in our country will help us maintain our innovative edge, boost our industrial capacity, and ensure we have the best-trained workforce—making us a stronger, more capable partner for our allies and all those who share our vision for a more equitable economic future around the world. That is why 13 economies in the Indo-Pacific stepped up to join the United States in strengthening labor standards, incentivizing the use of clean energy, and protecting our economies from corruption. Together with 11 of our neighbors in the Western Hemisphere, we are working to drive inclusive regional economic growth and create good-quality jobs. We are working to increase trade with Kenya and Taiwan—two vibrant partners in critical parts of the world. And we are working closely with international partners to build more resilient and reliable supply chains for critical minerals used in products like electric vehicle batteries.
We are also deepening our cooperation with the European Union—negotiating the world’s first emission-based trade arrangement on steel and aluminum to reward fair trade, promote clean manufacturing, and generate good jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. At the same time, the United States and the European Union are collectively addressing unfair competition from non-market economies and authoritarian regimes and working to eliminate forced labor from global supply chains.
We know that, with every new commitment we make, we must also enforce existing ones to build trust and confidence in trade. That is why my Administration has been laser-focused on working through the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to uphold our commitment to workers’ rights and environmental protections and to ensure that our dairy farmers and businesses in the energy and agricultural biotechnology sectors are treated fairly. We also remain committed to the World Trade Organization and to working with nations around the world to help the institution more effectively promote fair competition, transparency, and the rule of law while fostering supply chain resiliency through improved border procedures and addressing challenges like the climate crisis.
At home, my Administration is incorporating diverse voices into our policymaking—from small businesses and entrepreneurs to manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, fishers, and producers—to ensure trade works for more sectors of the American economy. We are taking steps to expand the benefits of trade to historically underrepresented and underserved communities, including making it easier for small- and medium-sized enterprises to access loans and loan guarantees offered by the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and working to double the number of businesses receiving export assistance from the Department of Commerce.
In America, we believe that everyone deserves a shot at prosperity. My Administration will continue to make sure trade is a force for good for all Americans—lifting up workers and businesses, forging lasting partnerships around the globe, and building a better and brighter tomorrow for us all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim May 21 through May 27, 2023, as World Trade Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week and to celebrate with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Armed Forces Day, we honor all the members of our Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard and Reserve forces. United by a common call to serve, these brave patriots not only comprise the finest fighting force the world has ever known but also represent the very best of our Nation.
Today, less than 1 percent of Americans currently wear the uniform—stepping up to defend the other 99 percent of our Nation with honor and courage. Through trials and testing as well as dangers and deployments, our service members remain resilient and resolved in their mission. They—and their families, caregivers, and survivors—also shoulder unique burdens, serving and sacrificing for our Nation’s core values: freedom, democracy, and liberty. And this year, as we mark the 50th anniversary of our all-volunteer force and the 75th anniversaries of a desegregated military and women’s integration, we are reminded that our Armed Forces are stronger and more capable than ever because of the diverse range of skillsets and experiences of our service members.
On Armed Forces Day, we also renew our sacred obligation to all those who serve: to prepare them when we send them into harm’s way and care for them and their families while they are deployed and when they return home. That is exactly what my Administration is doing. I have signed more than 25 bipartisan bills, including the PACT Act—the most significant law in our Nation’s history to help millions of veterans who were exposed to toxic fumes from burn pits or other toxic substances during their military service—to ensure our service members and veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors get the support they deserve. We have also expanded access to mental health care for our service members and veterans—a critical step in reducing suicides, which continue to claim far too many lives of our military members. My Administration has also worked to fix the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program—a key step in meeting our commitment to service members and those who have chosen other professions in public service. To date, we have helped over 450,000 borrowers who work in public service, including service members, get nearly $31 billion in student loan forgiveness. And, through the First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative, we are helping military spouses find good-paying jobs, ensuring military-connected children are supported in their classrooms, and aiding this community with resources to improve their health and well-being.
Our Nation also has an obligation to ensure that every service member—regardless of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, or religious background—feels safe in the ranks and has their contributions fully valued. Within my first month in office, I was proud to rescind the ban on openly transgender people serving in the military because no patriot should be barred from serving their country for being their authentic self. My Administration worked with the Congress to reform how the military investigates and prosecutes sexual assault, sexual harassment, domestic violence, and other related crimes, including by shifting authority from commanders to independent prosecutors. Working with leaders across the Department of Defense, I will continue to ensure that a culture of decency and respect always prevails within our ranks—including speaking out and standing up against harassment, abuse, and hate in all its forms.
Throughout our history, America’s Armed Forces have been sentinels of liberty and defenders of dignity. By keeping the flame of freedom burning bright, they have made our Nation stronger and the world safer. So today, let us all join together in honoring their courage, sacrifice, and service.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States, continuing the precedent of my predecessors in office, do hereby proclaim the third Saturday of each May as Armed Forces Day.
I direct the Secretary of Defense, on behalf of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and the Secretary of Homeland Security on behalf of the Coast Guard, to plan for appropriate observances each year, with the Secretary of Defense responsible for soliciting the participation and cooperation of civil authorities and private citizens. I invite the Governors of the States, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and other areas subject to the jurisdiction of the United States to provide for the observance of Armed Forces Day within their respective jurisdictions each year in an appropriate manner designed to increase public understanding and appreciation of the Armed Forces of the United States. I also invite veterans, civic leaders, and other organizations to join in the observance of Armed Forces Day each year.
Finally, I call upon all Americans to display the flag of the United States at their homes and businesses on Armed Forces Day, and I urge citizens to learn more about military service by attending and participating in the local observances of the day.
Proclamation 10400 of May 20, 2022, is hereby superseded.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On National Maritime Day, we honor the thousands of dedicated merchant mariners who serve on United States vessels around the world. During times of both peace and war, merchant mariners are always there—stepping up to transport equipment, troops, and goods across the globe to make our country safer and stronger.
With professionalism and passion, merchant mariners have forged us into the maritime Nation we are today. During the Revolutionary War, merchant vessels joined the vastly outnumbered American fleet to help defend our independence. During World War II, as our brave service members battled the forces of fascism, more than a quarter-million members of the Merchant Marine volunteered to transport tanks, ammunition, and troops across the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. Many of them made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of freedom. And today, merchant mariners not only help move hundreds of billions of dollars’ worth of cargo through our 25,000 miles of waterways and more than 360 commercial ports annually—they also crew vessels of our United
My Administration remains steadfast in its support of the Merchant Marine as well as the Jones Act, which ensures American workers see the benefits of our domestic maritime industry. We are also making historic investments to improve our maritime supply chains by making it easier, faster, cheaper, cleaner, and safer for ships to get in and out of our ports. We are strengthening our support for licensed Merchant Marine Officers, including requesting $196 million in my 2024 Budget to upgrade the United States Merchant Marine Academy’s campus, expand training, and help prevent sexual assault and support survivors—because every person at the Academy deserves to feel safe and have their contributions fully valued. We are also working to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in the ranks of the Merchant Marine because our economy and national security are strongest when we draw on the full skillsets and diversity of our Nation.
The United States Merchant Marine underpins our Nation’s prosperity and upholds our Nation’s highest principles—freedom, liberty, and dignity. Today, and every day, we honor merchant mariners’ service and sacrifice and renew our commitment to stand by their side, from sea to shining sea.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 20, 1933, has designated May 22 of each year as “National Maritime Day”; to commemorate the first transoceanic voyage by a steamship in 1819 by the S.S. Savannah. By this resolution, the Congress has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation calling for its appropriate observance. I also request that all ships sailing under the American flag dress ship on that day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim May 22, 2023, as National Maritime Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day and to celebrate the United States Merchant Marine and maritime industry with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Memorial Day, we honor America’s beloved daughters and sons who gave their last full measure of devotion to this Nation. We can never fully repay the debt we owe these fallen heroes. But today, we vow to rededicate ourselves to the work for which they gave their
For generations, stretching back to the formation of our country, these courageous people answered duty’s call, willing to give their lives for that which we all hold dear. They fought for our Independence. They defended our democracy. They sacrificed for our freedom. And today, as they lie in eternal peace, we continue to live by the light of liberty that they so bravely kept burning bright around the world.
This is always a day where pain and pride are mixed together. To all those who are mourning the loss of a service member—including America’s Gold Star Families—we see you and grieve with you. And we know that on this day especially, the pain of their absence can feel overwhelming. But for so many of you, that pain is wrapped around the knowledge that your loved one was part of something bigger than any of us; that they chose a life of mission and purpose; and that they dared all, risked all, and gave all to preserve and defend an idea unlike any other in human history: the United States of America.
These brave service members are not only the heart and soul of our country—they are the very spine. Today—and every day—we remember their service and ultimate sacrifice to our Nation. We reflect on our sacred and enduring vow to care for their families. And together, as we pause and pray, we pledge to continue defending freedom and democracy in their honor. May God bless our fallen heroes, and may God protect our troops.
In honor and recognition of all of our fallen service members, the Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 11, 1950, as amended (36 U.S.C. 116), has requested that the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people of the United States might unite in prayer and reflection. The Congress, by Public Law 106–579, has also designated 3:00 p.m. local time on that day as a time for all Americans to observe, in their own way, the National Moment of Remembrance.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Memorial Day, May 29, 2023, as a day of prayer for permanent peace, and I designate the hour beginning in each locality at 11:00 a.m. of that day as a time when people might unite in prayer and reflection. I urge the press, radio, television, and all other information media to cooperate in this observance. I further ask all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance beginning at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day.
I request the Governors of the United States and its Commonwealths and Territories, and the appropriate officials of all units of government, to direct that the flag be flown at half-staff until noon on this Memorial Day on all buildings, grounds, and naval vessels throughout the United States and in all areas under its jurisdiction and control. I encourage families, friends, and neighbors to post tributes to our fallen service members through the Veterans Legacy Memorial at vlm.cem.va.gov so that we may learn more about the lives and contributions of those buried in National, State, and Tribal veteran cemeteries. I also request the people of the United States to display the flag at half-staff from their homes for the customary forenoon period.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Secretary found and advised the President of his opinion that steel articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
2. In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary’s finding that steel articles, as defined in clause 1 of Proclamation 9705, as amended by clause 8 of Proclamation 9711 of March 22, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of those steel articles by imposing a 25 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported from all countries except Canada and Mexico. The proclamation further stated that any country with which we have a security relationship is welcome to discuss with the United States alternative ways to address the threatened impairment of the national security caused by imports from that country, and noted that, should the United States and any such country arrive at a satisfactory alternative means to address the threat to the national security such that the President determines that imports from that country no longer threaten to impair the national security, the President may remove or modify the restriction on steel articles imports from that country and, if necessary, adjust the tariff as it applies to other countries, as the national security interests of the United States require.
3. In Proclamation 10403 of May 27, 2022 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), I suspended the tariffs set forth in Proclamation 9705 for the import of steel articles and derivative steel articles from Ukraine for 1 year. I also instructed the Secretary to monitor the situation in the domestic steel industry and developments in Ukraine’s steel industry and inform me of any need to terminate or extend this suspension.
4. The Secretary has informed me that the situation with regard to Ukraine’s steel industry has not changed since the issuance of Proclamation 10403. Ukraine’s steel industry continues to be significantly
5. The Secretary has also informed me that the disruption of the Ukrainian steel industry has caused some steel articles from Ukraine to be further processed in countries that are members of the European Union. Expanding the scope of Proclamation 10403 to include the suspension of the tariffs on products from the European Union made from steel originating in Ukraine will greatly assist the Ukrainian steel industry. A certificate of origin attesting to the Ukrainian origin of the steel articles further processed in a member country of the European Union shall be required for duty-free treatment.
6. In light of the Secretary’s findings, I conclude that Ukraine’s present situation remains a special case and that an extension of the suspension of tariffs in Proclamation 10403 and the inclusion of steel articles from Ukraine further processed in a member country of the European Union is warranted. The Secretary shall continue to monitor the situation in the domestic steel industry and developments in Ukraine’s steel industry and inform me of any need to terminate or extend this suspension.
7. In light of my determination to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 as applied to eligible steel articles and derivative steel articles that are the product of Ukraine, I have considered whether it is necessary and appropriate in light of our national security interests to make any corresponding adjustments to such tariff as it applies to products of other countries. I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate, at this time, to maintain the current tariff level as it applies to products of other countries.
8. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to take action to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.
9. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modifica
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) To establish duty-free treatment on imports of steel articles when such are the products of Ukraine as set forth in clauses 2 and 3 of this proclamation, U.S. Note 16 of subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is amended as provided for in the Annex to this proclamation.
(2) Clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, is revised to read as follows:
“(2)(a) In order to establish certain modifications to the duty rate on imports of steel articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation and any subsequent proclamations regarding such steel articles.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, or in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.01, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 23, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and the member countries of the European Union; (ii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, and South Korea; (iii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on August 13, 2018, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (iv) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 20, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, and Turkey; (v) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on May 21, 2019, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea; (vi) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive; (vii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on April 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, and South Korea, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from Japan, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.81.25 through 9903.81.80, inclusive; (viii) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, and Ukraine through 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2023, and except the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2023, for steel articles covered by headings 9903.80.65 through 9903.81.19, inclusive, and from
(3) The first two sentences of clause 1 of Proclamation 9980 of January 24, 2020 (Adjusting Imports of Derivative Aluminum Articles and Derivative Steel Articles Into the United States), are revised to read as follows:
“In order to establish increases in the duty rate on imports of certain derivative articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in Annex I and Annex II to this proclamation. Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, all imports of derivative aluminum articles specified in Annex I to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 10 percent ad valorem rate of duty, and all imports of derivative steel articles specified in Annex II to this proclamation shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty, with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 8, 2020, these rates of duty, which are in addition to any other duties, fees, exactions, and charges applicable to such imported derivative aluminum articles or steel articles, shall apply to imports of derivative aluminum articles described in Annex I to this proclamation from all countries except Argentina, the Commonwealth of Australia (Australia), Canada, and the United Mexican States (Mexico), and to imports of derivative steel articles de
(4) Any imports of steel articles from Ukraine that were admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status”; as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2022, to the 25 percent rate of duty imposed by Proclamation 9705, as amended; and any imports of steel articles from the member countries of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine that were admitted into a U.S. foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status”; as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2023, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 1, 2023, to the 25 percent rate of duty imposed by Proclamation 9705, as amended.
(5) Steel articles from a member country of the European Union where the steel used in the manufacture of the steel article is melted and poured in Ukraine are not eligible for, and shall not count against, the in-quota volume of the tariff-rate quota established in clause 1 of Proclamation 10328 of December 27, 2021 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States).
(6) Steel articles from Ukraine eligible for treatment under clauses 2 and 3 of this proclamation must be accompanied by a certificate of origin in order to be eligible for duty-free treatment. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the United States Trade Representative, is authorized to take such actions as are necessary to ensure compliance with this requirement. Failure to comply could result in applicable remedies such as the collection of the tariff set forth in clause 2 of Proclamation 9705 and clause 1 of Proclamation 9980, or penalties under United States law.
(7) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Black Music Month, we pay homage to legends of American music, who have composed the soundtrack of American life. Their creativity has given rise to distinctly American art forms that influence contemporary music worldwide and sing to the soul of the American experience.
Much of Black music is rooted in African rhythms, coupled with the experience of slavery and struggle in America. Barred from expressing themselves in their native tongues, enslaved people developed a language to articulate their hopes, dreams, sense of loss, and tenacity to overcome the harrowing nature of their lives. They used music to strategically and creatively voice their most deeply held feelings. Today, the creative ways that Black music tells stories of trial and triumph in American life continue to move us all to understand the common struggles of humanity. Spirituals, gospel, the blues, R&B, rock and roll, jazz, pop, rap, hip-hop, and more have molded American culture and given rise to new American art forms emulated around the globe.
Since taking office, my Administration has supported American creators and communities—uplifting more voices, inspiring new generations, and showing the full power of our example as a great Nation. We have invested hundreds of millions of dollars in strengthening the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities while securing over a billion more to help concert halls, theaters, museums, libraries, and other venues recover from the COVID–19 pandemic. I have also had the honor of celebrating legendary Black musicians at the White House who, along with thousands more across the country, have made a lifetime of contributions to this Nation.
This month, we celebrate the songs and artists that challenge us to think critically, stand up to injustice, and believe in ourselves. We recommit to expanding the promise of dignity and opportunity for all Americans. And we revel in the sounds, spirit, and soul of some of the very best music ever created.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as Black Music Month. I call upon public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this month by honoring Black musicians and raising awareness and appreciation of Black music.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
In June 1969, a courageous group of Americans rose up to protest the violence and marginalization they faced in what became known as the Stonewall Uprising. Police had raided the Stonewall Inn—a gay bar located in New York City—and for the next six days they clashed with LGBTQI+ protestors, who bravely stood their ground. Their courage sparked a civil rights movement for the liberation of the LGBTQI+ community and changed our Nation forever.
During Pride Month, we honor a movement that has grown stronger, more vibrant, and more inclusive with every passing year. Pride is a celebration of generations of LGBTQI+ people, who have fought bravely to live openly and authentically. And it is a reminder that we still have generational work to do to ensure that everyone enjoys the full promise of equity, dignity, protection, and freedom.
Today, our Nation faces another inflection point. In 2023 alone, State and local legislatures have already introduced over 600 hateful laws targeting the LGBTQI+ community. Books about LGBTQI+ people are being banned from libraries. Transgender youth in over a dozen States have had their medically necessary health care banned. Homophobic and transphobic vitriol spewed online has spilled over into real life, as armed hate groups intimidate people at Pride marches and drag performances, and threaten doctors’ offices and children’s hospitals that offer care to the LGBTQI+ community. Our hearts are heavy with grief for the loved ones we have lost to anti-LGBTQI+ violence.
Despite these attacks, the LGBTQI+ community remains resilient. LGBTQI+ Americans are defiantly and unapologetically proud. Youth leaders are organizing walkouts at high schools and colleges across the country to protest discriminatory laws. LGBTQI+ young people and their parents are demonstrating unimaginable courage by testifying in State capitols in defense of their basic rights.
They are not alone: My entire Administration stands proudly with the LGBTQI+ community in the enduring struggle for freedom, justice, and equality. And we are making strides. On my first day in office, I signed a historic Executive Order charging the entire Federal Government with protecting LGBTQI+ people from discrimination—from health care to housing, education, employment, banking, and the criminal justice system. Last December, surrounded by dozens of couples who have fought for marriage equality in the courts for decades, I had the great honor of signing into law the landmark Respect for Marriage Act. This bipartisan law protects the rights of same-sex and interracial couples—like caring for one’s sick partner and receiving spousal benefits. Deciding who to marry is one of life’s most profound decisions, so we etched a simple truth into law: Love is love.
Meanwhile, I have taken unprecedented steps to support LGBTQI+ youth. During Pride Month last year, I signed an Executive Order charging Federal agencies with combating the dangerous and discred-
This country is stronger and more just when America’s leaders reflect the full diversity of our Nation, so I have appointed a historic number of highly qualified openly LGBTQI+ judges and public servants at all levels of the Federal Government. Our Armed Forces are most capable when all patriots can serve their country, so I protected the right of transgender people to once again serve openly in the military.
But there is more to do, like passing the bipartisan Equality Act, which would strengthen civil rights protections for LGBTQI+ people and families across America. We must also address the disproportionate levels of homelessness, poverty, and unemployment in the LGBTQI+ community and end the crisis of violence against transgender women and girls of color. We must support LGBTQI+ activists around the globe who are standing up for basic human rights and LGBTQI+ survivors of gender-based violence. And we must end the HIV/AIDS epidemic once and for all. Our collective freedoms are inextricably linked: when one group’s dignity and equality are threatened, we all suffer. This month and every month, let us celebrate the pride that powers the movement for LGBTQI+ rights and commit to doing our part to help realize the promise of America, for all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Intersex Pride Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the achievements of the LGBTQI+ community, to celebrate the great diversity of the American people, and to wave their flags of pride high.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Caribbean-American Heritage Month, we celebrate the achievements and dreams of the millions of people of Caribbean origin now living in the United States while honoring the shared history of joy and perseverance that has united and enriched life across our region for centuries.
There is no single Caribbean American identity. The mix of cultures, languages, and religions alive across the United States and the islands reflects the diversity of spirit that defines the American story. Meanwhile, our countries are bound by common values and a shared history—overcoming the yoke of colonialism, confronting the original sin of slavery, and charting new opportunities across borders and generations.
Since our founding, Caribbean Americans from Alexander Hamilton to Colin Powell have contributed to the United States in the most profound ways. Today, pathbreakers like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor continue advancing our work toward a more perfect Union. I am especially proud of the extraordinary leaders of Caribbean heritage now serving in my Administration—from Vice President Kamala Harris to Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. And I take equal pride in the generations of Caribbean Americans who literally built this country—bringing tremendous hope and energy to bear as small business owners, teachers, health care workers, military service members, union organizers, community leaders, and so much more.
For too long, too many have faced systemic barriers to success. As President, I have issued two separate Executive Orders to change that, pushing to advance racial justice across every policy that my Administration pursues. As we have passed historic laws to rebuild our Nation’s infrastructure, lower prescription drug costs, create a clean energy economy, and transform American manufacturing to once again lead the world, we have done so with an eye for equity, rebuilding our economy from the middle out and bottom up. As a result, we have created 12.7 million jobs—bringing Black and Latino unemployment to record lows—and we have helped millions to start and grow their own businesses. At the same time, we are using all the tools we have to make our Nation’s broken immigration system as orderly, safe, and humane as possible, sending support to the border while expanding lawful pathways for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans—among others—to come to the United States without taking the dangerous journey to our southern border. What we really need is for the Congress to finally pass comprehensive immigration reform, including a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, farm and essential workers, and temporary status holders, many of whom are from the Caribbean. I will not quit pressing the Congress to act.
Beyond our borders, we are working with our Caribbean partners to expand opportunity and keep the region safe so more of our neighbors
A central promise of this country is the idea that everyone is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives. It is a cornerstone of our common heritage in this hemisphere, even as we keep striving to finally make that vision real. Caribbean-American Heritage Month is a chance to celebrate the rich diversity that covenant has brought us and to renew its promise for future generations of Caribbean Americans and for us all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as National Caribbean-American Heritage Month. I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating the history, culture, and achievements of Caribbean Americans with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During National Homeownership Month, we recognize the power of owning a home when raising a family, planting roots in a community, building equity, and passing down generational wealth to continue the American Dream for generations to come. We recognize that a place to call home, regardless of owning or renting, is essential to a life of security, dignity, and hope.
That is why my Administration is committed to removing barriers to homeownership. During the COVID–19 pandemic, when mortgage payments became harder to make and rents rose 26 percent nationally, my Administration took action to ensure people could stay in their homes. We extended foreclosure moratoriums for millions of households, provided financial relief for homeowners who had fallen behind on their mortgage payments, delivered nearly 11 million emergency rental assistance payments, developed the first ever national infrastructure to stop eviction, and provided 70,000 emergency housing vouchers. To build on this progress, we recently awarded more than 19,000 new Housing Choice Vouchers—the largest expansion of flexible rental assistance in 20 years.
We are taking additional steps to make housing more affordable. Over the past decades, rising prices have forced people to spend more than 30 percent of their incomes on housing in many places around the country, too often locking Americans out of the prospect of buying a home altogether. In February, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) made annual mortgage insurance premiums cheaper, saving Americans with Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-insured mortgages an average of $800 per year. The FHA also made it easier for first-time homebuyers to qualify for mortgage financing by allowing underwriters to take into account positive rental history to determine creditworthiness. And HUD is making it easier for Americans to access resources that help with homeownership, foreclosure avoidance and eviction, financial literacy, financial planning, and more.
At the same time, we are hard at work implementing our Housing Supply Action Plan with a goal of addressing and eliminating the root causes of the affordable housing shortfall by 2027. That includes making it easier to build mixed-income housing using Low-Income Housing Tax Credits. We have helped housing projects build multifamily homes by making more affordable financing options available. And with the historic investments through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making low-interest loans available to developers and State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments to build new housing close to public transit locations. The law will also connect communities with vital resources like water and high-speed internet that increase home values and a tax base to fund important things like local schools.
Today, across America, there is a historic number of affordable, multifamily units currently under construction. And my Fiscal Year 2024 Budget calls for $175 billion to build on this progress. It would provide down payment assistance to first-time, first-generation homebuyers—helping to make a key part of the American Dream a reality. It would create a new tax credit to directly support building or renovating affordable homes for low- or middle-income buyers. It would also help State and local governments fight restrictive zoning laws and other red tape that stalls new construction and drives up housing prices. Further, my Budget includes provisions to prevent evictions and bring us closer to our goal of reducing homelessness by 25 percent by 2025.
These actions go hand-in-hand with our work to combat racial discrimination in housing, including everything from ending the legacy of redlining to addressing the cruel fact that a home owned by a Black family is too often undervalued compared to the same kind of home owned by a white family. The Fair Housing Act bans discrimination against renters or potential buyers on the basis of race, but studies show that many Americans are still denied equal treatment in the housing market. That is why the Department of Justice and HUD are cracking down on discrimination and why my Administration is taking bold action to root out bias in the appraisal process.
I have often said that the middle class is not just a number—it is a value set. It is about the issues that matter to every American family: a good education; economic opportunity; and access to quality, affordable health care. Having a safe, decent, and affordable place to call home is a key part of that.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as National Homeownership Month. I call upon the people of this Nation to safeguard the American Dream by ensuring that everyone has access to an affordable home in a community of their choice.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
America is more than a place; it is an idea. It is the idea that everyone is created equal and deserves to be treated equally throughout their lives and that everyone should have a fair shot and an equal chance to get ahead. That is what has drawn people to our shores for centuries. It is what makes us who we are. And that very idea of America has been advanced by immigrants from every part of the world—my ancestors and yours. Their dreams built America, and during National Immigrant Heritage Month, we celebrate their courage.
The First Lady and I are proud descendants of immigrants—the Giacoppas, from the northeast corner of Sicily in Italy, and the Finnegans of County Louth and the Blewitts of County Mayo in Ireland. Vice President Harris was born in Oakland, California, to parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica. Like so many who still come here seeking a better future, our parents and great-grandparents could not be sure what life would bring. But they had faith that, for their children and grandchildren, anything would be possible in America. And they were right.
Many families also came to America in search of a better future and the promise of the American Dream, and each wave of newcomers brings energy and new ideas to move our Nation forward. Today, one third of our doctors and nearly three quarters of our farmworkers are immigrants, and so many more are essential workers, first responders, and military service members. Immigrants own approximately one in five businesses, create millions of jobs, pay hundreds of billions in taxes, and spend even more on American goods. Almost half of all Fortune 500 companies were started by immigrants or their kids. Immigrants help strengthen our diplomatic and people-to-people ties around the world. It’s simple: immigrants keep our Nation strong and our economy growing.
That truth used to be something most of us agreed on. President Ronald Reagan proudly signed a law giving an opportunity to 2.7 million undocumented people to seek permanent residence. President George W. Bush pushed hard for comprehensive immigration reform. On day
Until the Congress acts, my Administration will keep using every tool we have to make the system more orderly, safe, and humane. We have announced new pathways for nationals of Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Haiti, and other countries in the region to come here lawfully. And in May, we joined with partners across the Western Hemisphere to launch a plan to open new centers where people can receive help with applying to come to the United States, rather than making the dangerous trek at the mercy of criminal organizations and smugglers. At home, we have expanded whistleblower protections for undocumented workers so they too can call out wage theft or unsafe working conditions, improving things for everyone. And we have strengthened the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program that for more than 10 years has allowed 800,000 Dreamers to live and work freely in the only country they know as home. In addition, we have recently proposed a plan to expand DACA recipients’ access to health care through the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid.
Immigration has always been essential to America, and this month, we reflect on the strength and spirit of immigrants that have been passed down through families and infused in our Nation. This spring, I had the chance to travel back to Ireland, to walk the ground my ancestors walked, and to celebrate the bonds that connect us still. Over the years, stories of that place have become part of my soul. I stood beside a cathedral built of bricks that my great-great-great-grandfather supplied. I imagined his son bringing his family across the ocean during the famine of 1850, leaving all they had known for hope on a distant shore. I remembered stories of his son—my great-grandfather—who kept those roots alive in Scranton, helping to found the Irish American Association, chairing the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and passing that pride on to his granddaughter—my mom. It is a pride that speaks to the history and the values that bind us: immigrant values of hard work, dignity, and respect that I have tried to pass on to my own children and grandchildren.
Most Americans have their own version of that same story: ancestors who overcame incredible odds to build new lives in this promised land and contribute to the fabric of our Nation. And we see those same values alive at the White House every time we celebrate our proud immigrant communities, whose holidays and rich cultures give new life to our Nation—including Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights; Eid, the feast ending Ramadan; Greek Independence Day, a celebration of freedom and democracy; and the Lunar New Year, a festivity committing to new beginnings. We see that spirit of hope at every naturalization ceremony, when we celebrate the journey completed by millions of people whose courage and commitment have earned them a title that is equal to that of President in our democracy—the title of “citizen.”; This month, we honor our ancestors by working to keep the torch of liberty lit and held high.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as National Immigrant Heritage Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of our Nation’s diverse and varied immigrant communities and to observe this month with appropriate programming and activities that remind us of the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
The ocean makes life on Earth possible—feeding us, sustaining livelihoods, and connecting economies across the globe. It bonds us as a source of recreation and rejuvenation for our spirits and links us to our heritage through Indigenous communities who have stewarded our marine habitats since time immemorial. Through its rich ecosystems of diverse plants, animals, and other species, it is also central to our fight against the climate crisis and to creating a cleaner, safer, and healthier future. During National Ocean Month, we recommit to protecting and conserving our precious ocean and to harnessing its power to shape a more sustainable planet.
My Administration is acting with urgency and a seriousness of purpose. Around the globe, the climate crisis today is drastically impacting marine life, coastal communities, and the ocean economy. The past eight years have been the warmest on record—and more than 90 percent of excess heat has been absorbed by the ocean. Rising temperatures force marine life to move away from their usual habitats, straining communities and working families who rely on fisheries for a living and for sustenance. Increasing acidity in our seas, along with nutrient and plastic pollution, endangers species and threatens food supplies. Higher sea levels make storm surges even more dangerous for coastal communities.
But we are not powerless in the face of these challenges—and the ocean can be an effective tool to confront them. That is why my Administration has joined together with State, Tribal, territorial, and local partners to implement the first-ever United States Ocean Climate Action Plan. With billions of dollars from our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and our Inflation Reduction Act—the most significant climate investment in American history—we are advancing new offshore wind projects with an ambitious goal of deploying 30 gigawatts by 2030, enough to power 10 million homes while also protecting biodiversity. We are modernizing America’s infrastructure and electrifying equip
At the same time, we are protecting ecosystems and supporting the communities who rely on them. Together with our international partners, we are cracking down on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. And we are working to strengthen sustainable fisheries, ensuring hardworking Americans can continue to provide for their families and feed our Nation.
As part of my America the Beautiful Initiative—which set a goal of conserving 30 percent of America’s lands and waters by 2030—we are also taking steps toward designating new national marine sanctuaries. Toward that aim, I issued a Presidential Memorandum to consider designating more than 700,000 square miles around the Pacific Remote Islands as a new national marine sanctuary. If completed, this area would be among the largest marine protected areas on the planet. And it would honor the traditional practices and ancestral pathways of Pacific Island voyagers. With input from Tribal partners, my Administration also began the designation process for multiple new national marine sanctuaries, including the Hudson Canyon in the Atlantic Ocean and the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Southern California.
These actions make us safer. Healthy ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes take carbon out of the atmosphere while creating natural buffers that help absorb the force of hurricanes, typhoons, and tropical storms before they reach our communities. That is why my Administration is investing more than $500 million to help fortify these and other, nature-based climate solutions and create good-paying jobs for Americans in the process.
It is hard to imagine just how much of the ocean we have yet to discover and what possibilities for the future of human and planetary health, as well as for our economy, lie beneath its surface. This National Ocean Month, let us honor its beauty and bounty with action and commit to protecting and conserving it for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 2023 as National Ocean Month. I call upon Americans to take action to protect, conserve, and restore our ocean and coasts.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of May, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Flag Day and during National Flag Week, we celebrate the enduring strength and promise that the stars and stripes on our flag have always embodied as they fly proudly across our country and around the world.
Our flag tells America’s story—the story of an ever-evolving Nation. Thirteen colonies joining together and winning independence, forming a great Union of States that has grown bigger and more just across generations—a place where everyone is entitled to certain unalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is an emblem of our strength at home and abroad, synonymous with America as a force for good in the world. It has flown on battlefields since the Revolution and reminded allies and adversaries throughout the last century that the darkness of autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty. It flies over grand celebratory monuments, and it accompanies headstones at sacred places like Arlington National Cemetery, where Jill and I recently paid tribute to the hundreds of thousands of brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom and future, giving their lives so our Nation might live. We honor their unbending sense of duty and courage and remember their faith that we would be worthy of their sacrifice.
Old Glory stands for hope, pride, and progress. It is stamped on our exports, hung from booming factories, and painted on spacecraft that travel high above our skies—a symbol of the American spirit that keeps innovating, building, and breaking boundaries. It waves for justice and equality. It adorns courtrooms and classrooms. And it presides over free and fair elections at polling places across the Nation, reinforcing the promise of our democracy.
Our flag embodies the very soul of America—a soul that has endured because of sacrifices made by generations of Americans, whose mission we must keep alive to ensure democracy endures. The Stars and Stripes belongs to all Americans and reminds us that much more unites us than divides us. It flies proudly in small town squares, on downtown skyscrapers, in high school gyms, in our biggest sports stadiums, and on our military bases. Wherever our flag is, it stands for freedom, justice, and opportunity; it is a beacon of democracy and the fundamental American promise that everyone is created equal and united in pursuit of a more perfect Union.
To commemorate the adoption of our flag in 1777, the Congress, by joint resolution approved on August 3, 1949, as amended (63 Stat. 492), designated June 14 of each year as “Flag Day”; and requested the President issue an annual proclamation calling for its observance and for the display of the flag of the United States on all Federal Government buildings. The Congress also requested, by joint resolution approved June 9, 1966, as amended (80 Stat. 194), that the President issue annually a proclamation designating the week in which June 14 occurs as “National Flag Week”; and calling upon all citizens of the United States to display the flag during that week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim June 14, 2023, as Flag Day, and the week starting June 11, 2023, as National Flag Week. I direct the appropriate officials to display the flag on all Federal Government buildings during this week, and I urge all Americans to observe Flag Day and National Flag Week by displaying the flag and honoring all of our brave service members and revering those who gave their last full measure of devotion defending our freedoms. I encourage the people of the United States to observe with pride and all due ceremony those days from Flag Day through Independence Day, set aside by the Congress (89 Stat. 211), as a time to honor the American spirit, to celebrate our history and the foundational values we strive to uphold, and to publicly recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
Around the world, a silent epidemic of elder abuse is denying seniors the ability to age with dignity, security, and grace. No nation is immune. In America, 1 in 10 people over the age of 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse, with cases still widely underreported. On World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, we highlight the signs of this crisis, lift up the voices of survivors, and strive to improve resources for those on a path to healing.
Fighting elder abuse begins with bringing it out of the shadows and raising awareness about its many forms. While some victims show injuries from physical or sexual violence, others experience psychological abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation, which may be more difficult to detect. These offenses can happen anywhere—at home with family or friends, at work among colleagues, online, and in other public and private places. Wherever it occurs, it is antithetical to the basic American belief that every human being, regardless of age, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.
To date, my Administration has invested over $430 million to strengthen Adult Protective Services across our country, improving their ability to investigate reports of elder abuse; support survivors with emergency needs like food, shelter, or law enforcement protection; and help provide medical and mental health treatment, legal and financial assistance, and more. My 2024 Budget calls for an additional $43 million beyond our current spending level to support these vital programs.
Last year, I reauthorized and strengthened the Violence Against Women Act, which includes dedicated funding for service providers,
But the security of elderly people involves more than protecting them against malicious schemes. My Administration is also working to improve the quality of care that older Americans receive at home and in other residential settings. Long-term care costs for the elderly and people with disabilities are up 40 percent over the last decade, and too many care workers are underpaid and undervalued. In fact, too many are leaving the profession altogether. That is why, in addition to implementing a National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, I signed an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. It will make long-term care more accessible and affordable for families; support family caregivers shouldering immense responsibility; and improve job quality for home care workers and staff at nursing homes, which in turn bolsters the workforce. I continue calling on the Congress to pass laws that improve the safety and quality of care in nursing homes. My new Budget would also invest $150 billion over the next decade to improve and expand Medicaid home- and community-based services—making it easier for seniors and people with disabilities to receive quality care in their own homes.
The same principles guiding my Administration’s work to protect and support the elderly at home also motivate our partnerships abroad. United States local law enforcement agencies, through Department of State programs, are training foreign counterparts to help them investigate crimes against the elderly and provide assistance to victims. Through the first-ever Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security, we are also working to improve conditions and opportunities for caregivers around the world, many of whom are older women or support aging adults. Our Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence Globally is meanwhile focused on fighting elder abuse as a form of gender-based violence, recognizing that gender-based violence affects people of all ages, including older adults.
Today, let us pledge to protect seniors who deserve to be treated with dignity and respect not only because of a lifetime of contribution but because of their overriding humanity. It is fundamental that we shape a world that values seniors’ wisdom, celebrates their achievements, and treats their lives and rights as sacred, and it is within our reach to make it a reality.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 15, 2023, as World Elder Abuse Awareness Day. I encourage all Americans to be diligent, work together to strengthen existing partnerships,
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
On Father’s Day, we celebrate the dads, stepdads, grandfathers, and father figures in our lives, who shape who we are and set an example for the kind of people we aspire to be. They sacrifice so we can succeed, they mentor us so we can reach our potential, and they believe in us so we can learn to believe in ourselves. Across America, fathers work tirelessly every day to build a better future for their families, devoting their lives to ensuring that their children are safe, supported, and empowered to pursue their dreams. Today, we honor these men who have showered us with guidance, encouragement, and unconditional love.
Fathers are critical to raising the next generation and to teaching their daughters and sons about the values that matter most. They demonstrate responsible fatherhood and foster healthy perspectives on masculinity. Along the way, dads help their children navigate life’s most difficult challenges, nurture their confidence and character, and give them the tools to develop a moral compass.
My dad, Joseph Robinette Biden Sr., taught me values early in life that continue to inspire me today. I can still hear his voice at the dinner table explaining that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. I remember him saying that the measure of a person is not how many times or how hard we get knocked down but how fast we get back up. And he taught me that, above all, family is the beginning, middle, and end—a lesson I have passed down to my children and grandchildren.
My father also used to say that a job is about a lot more than just a paycheck—it’s about dignity, pride, a sense of self-worth, and your ability to look your child in the eye and tell them everything will be okay. That idea is at the heart of my commitment to building our economy from the bottom up and the middle out, with millions of good-paying jobs in manufacturing, construction, clean energy, and more. It has also guided our work to cut the cost of lifesaving prescription drugs and slash health insurance premiums, so no parent has to lie awake at night wondering how they can afford to pay their monthly bills and provide for their children. And as I said in my 2023 State of the Union Address, we will ensure that we protect Social Security and Medicare so that our fathers and grandfathers can age with dignity.
But we still have much more work to do, such as delivering affordable child care, paid family leave, and improved home care for seniors. I am confident that our Nation can come together to build a brighter future for all of our families.
As we honor the fathers and father figures in our lives, we also know this day falls hard on children without their fathers and fathers without their children. It is hard seeing that empty chair at the kitchen table; experiencing birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays without them; and remembering everyday things—the small things, the details that matter the most. We keep in our prayers all those who mark today with a hole in their heart, missing a father figure they love—whether by accident, illness, or another cruel twist of fate. And as we pray, we remember that no matter where they are, our dads’ love for us and our love for them is a gift that never goes away. It will always be with us.
Today, as we express our gratitude for the men who have enriched our lives, let us remember that family is life’s greatest blessing and responsibility; that we owe it to ourselves and our loved ones to make the most of our precious time together; and that our Nation would not be where it is today without our beloved fathers and father figures.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, in accordance with a joint resolution of the Congress approved April 24, 1972, as amended (36 U.S.C. 109), do hereby proclaim June 18, 2023, as Father’s Day. I direct the appropriate officials of the Government to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on this day. Let us honor our fathers, living and deceased, and show them the love and gratitude they deserve.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
One of my proudest actions as President has been signing the bipartisan law establishing Juneteenth as the first new Federal holiday since the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday nearly four decades ago. On this Juneteenth Day of Observance, we commemorate America’s dedication to the cause of freedom.
On June 19, 1865—months after the Civil War ended and more than 2 years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing enslaved people—Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, to free 250,000 people still held in bondage. The arrival of Major General Gordon Granger and his troops signaled that the Federal Government would not relent until the last enslaved people in America were free.
On Juneteenth, we commemorate that day and honor the tireless work of abolitionists who made it their mission to deliver the promise of America for all Americans. We honor the generations of activists who have advanced the need for our Nation to recognize Juneteenth as a way to reconcile our past as we build a new American future together—advocates like former State Representative Al Edwards, who authored the bill that made Texas the first state to designate Juneteenth a holiday, and Ms. Opal Lee, known as the grandmother of Juneteenth, who joined me at the bill signing that finally made it a Federal holiday.
Importantly, making Juneteenth a Federal holiday was only one part of my Administration’s efforts to advance racial equity and ensure that America lives up to its highest ideals. With the expansion of the Child Tax Credit under the American Rescue Plan, we cut Black child poverty by half. From historic laws in my Investing in America agenda—in infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and clean energy, and lower prescription drug costs—to historic investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, our Nation is in the midst of rebuilding an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, instead of the top down. As a result, Black unemployment has been at a historic low and we are increasing access to affordable homeownership for Black Americans and combating bias in the home appraisal process. We are building a Federal bench that looks like America, with more Black women confirmed as circuit court judges than every other Presidency combined. I have taken action on marijuana reform by pardoning prior District of Columbia and Federal simple marijuana possession offenses and directed a review of marijuana scheduling. With the support of families, civil rights leaders, and law enforcement, I signed a historic Executive Order on police reform at the Federal level. And we passed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years. My Administration’s student debt relief plan that would provide $10,000 in relief for eligible borrowers and $20,000 in relief for borrowers who received Pell Grants is a critical step forward—among Black undergraduate borrowers, 70 percent received a Pell Grant. And in this Administration, we make it clear that history matters. Black history and Black stories will not be erased, denied, or banned from our Nation’s conscience no matter how hard people may try.
But we know there is more to do. As we observe Juneteenth, we remind ourselves of the sacred proposition rooted in Scripture and enshrined in our Declaration of Independence: that we are all created equal in the image of God and each of us deserves to be treated equally throughout our lives. That is the promise of America that every generation is charged to keep alive. While the opposition may seem fierce and the fire of conflict may be intense, the story of Juneteenth reveals that freedom, justice, and equality will always prevail.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim June 19, 2023, as Juneteenth Day of Observance. I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and condemn the history of slavery in our Nation and recognize how the impact of America’s original sin remains. I call on every American to celebrate Juneteenth and recommit to working together to eradicate systemic racism and inequity in our society wherever they find it.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-seventh.
During Captive Nations Week, we reaffirm our support for brave people around the world who are standing up to oppressive rule and striving for greater freedom, greater dignity, and greater democracy.
When President Dwight D. Eisenhower proclaimed the first Captive Nations Week in 1959, he appealed directly to the hundreds of millions living behind the Iron Curtain—firm in the knowledge that authoritarianism could never erase a people’s love of liberty. Over the coming decades, courageous women and men joined together to demand their fundamental freedoms and human rights. But the battle against oppression did not end with the Cold War. The forces of autocracy continue to reassert themselves. In Iran, Belarus, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the People’s Republic of China, and elsewhere, we are seeing an all too familiar contempt for the rule of law, for democracy, for human rights, and even for the truth itself.
This is all too evident in Russia’s brutal aggression against its neighbor Ukraine and in the Ukrainian people’s courageous defense of their sovereignty, freedom, land, and lives. And around the world, countless more are working every day in their own countries to advance the essential democratic principles that unite free people everywhere: the rule of law; free and fair elections; the freedom of the press; the freedom to speak, write, and assemble; and the freedom to worship as one chooses. These advocates and champions of democracy are living proof that the darkness that drives autocracy can never extinguish the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.
The United States is proud to stand with all those who fight for freedom. We will continue supporting democratic reformers and human rights defenders around the world, who are working for a future where women and girls can exercise their rights equally and contribute fully to society, where members of religious and ethnic minorities can live their lives without harassment, where LGBTQI+ people can live and love freely, and where citizens and the press can question and criticize their leaders without fear of reprisal.
Two years ago, at the first Summit for Democracy, I was proud to launch the Presidential Initiative for Democratic Renewal, with more than $400 million in initiatives to defend and grow democratic resilience with partners around the globe. This year, at our second Summit, I committed another $690 million to keep growing our work to advance democracy internationally. Democracy—transparent and accountable
The United States will continue to lead not just by the example of our power but the power of our example. That is why, since my first day in office, my Administration has also taken decisive action to restore and strengthen democracy here at home. I issued an Executive Order promoting access to voter registration and election information, and I signed into law the Electoral Count Reform Act, which helps preserve the will of the people against future attempts to overturn our elections. The Department of Justice has strengthened its ability to fight unlawful voter suppression. And I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act.
During this Captive Nations Week, as we honor the bravery of democratic reformers and human rights defenders everywhere, I am reminded of the words of the philosopher Kierkegaard: “Faith sees best in the dark.”; To those living in darkness today: We honor your resilience. To those who are committed to the cause of liberty: We are your partner for a better future.
The Congress, by joint resolution approved July 17, 1959 (73 Stat. 212), has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation designating the third week of July of each year as “Captive Nations Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim July 16 through July 22, 2023, as Captive Nations Week. I call upon all Americans to reaffirm our commitment to championing those around the world who are working, often at great personal risk, to secure liberty and justice for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The dawn of the nuclear age is familiar to many—the development of new science, but also new risks and destruction, as witnessed by the devastation at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But the lesser-known story is that of the members of our Armed Forces who participated in nuclear tests from 1945 to 1962 or were exposed to radioactive material at home and abroad—our courageous Atomic Veterans.
Today, we remember their service and sacrifice and recommit to ensuring they receive the benefits and care they deserve. Atomic Veterans bore unusual risk but were sworn to secrecy throughout their service and beyond, unable to discuss the nature of their experiences and con
Our Nation has many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation: to prepare those we send into harm’s way and care for them and their families while they are deployed and when they return home—including our Atomic Veterans. My Administration is making good on this promise. I have signed laws that support veterans who developed cancer and other medical conditions stemming from our World War II nuclear program. That includes the PACT Act—one of the most significant laws in our Nation’s history to help veterans who were exposed to toxins, radiation, and chemicals during their service access the care and benefits they and their families deserve.
This month, let us join together to remember the service of our Atomic Veterans. Let us recommit to honoring the sacrifices they made for our Nation’s safety and security. And let us continue to build a future of peace and a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 16, 2023, as National Atomic Veterans Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor our Nation’s Atomic Veterans, whose brave service and sacrifice played an important role in the defense of our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
American workers are the best in the world; and today, with a historic Investing in America agenda, we are proving that the phrase “Made in America”; is not just a slogan—it is a reality. During Made in America Week, we celebrate the workers, unions, and innovators who power our Nation’s prosperity and make it possible for America to once again lead the world in manufacturing.
American manufacturing has long been the backbone of our economy. But for decades, companies moved jobs and production overseas,
Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes a once-in-a-generation investment in rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, railways, ports, airports, and water systems, using American-made iron, steel, manufactured products, and construction materials. And because this bill included provisions like $7.5 billion to build a national network of 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations with American-made equipment, we have seen a boom in manufacturing and private investment here at home. Our historic CHIPS and Science Act brings semiconductor manufacturing home, protecting national security and boosting our supply of those tiny computer chips that power everything from cell phones and computers to washing machines. Our Inflation Reduction Act, meanwhile, makes our biggest investment in fighting the climate crisis in history, with tax credits to boost demand for American-made clean energy technology. We are expanding Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs, training the next generation of American workers to lead the world in these new industries throughout the 21st century. Last month, we launched www.Invest.gov, an interactive website showing the historic public and private investments that these laws are bringing to States and territories across the country so Americans everywhere can see “Made in America”; progress in their own communities and feel new hope and pride reborn.
At the same time, we are using the purchasing power of the Federal Government—the largest buyer of consumer goods in the world—to directly boost demand for American-made products. During my first week as President, I signed an Executive Order directing agencies to tighten Buy America and Buy American policies, close loopholes, increase coordination, and ensure transparency. We also enacted the biggest change to the Buy American Act in nearly 70 years, now requiring a record 60 percent of the value of products’ components to be American-made, which will reach 75 percent by 2029. We are also using a federally funded national network—the Manufacturing Extension Partnership—to increase the capabilities of small- and medium-sized domestic manufacturers so that they win more Federal contracts. And to help all American businesses find these opportunities, we launched www.MadeinAmerica.gov.
These historic actions are making sure American workers make American goods on American soil—a key part of my Administration’s mission to rebuild our economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down. America has always been a can-do country full of possibilities, and together we will keep working to make our economy the most competitive and innovative in the world, while leaving no one behind. This week, we can all feel new pride in those three powerful words—Made in America.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The brutal lynching of Emmett Till in Mississippi in 1955 and the subsequent courage of his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley, to ensure his death would not be in vain helped bring broad national attention to the injustices and inequality that Black people experienced during the Jim Crow era across the United States and, in particular, the South. The story—one that is shaped by the fight for civil rights and the historic movement called the Great Migration, during which millions of Black people moved out of the South—is rooted in the specific places where Emmett Till lived and traveled in his too-short life: Chicago, where Mamie Till-Mobley came with her family for better opportunities and then mourned her son at the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ; and the Mississippi Delta, where Emmett Till was murdered in an act of racial violence while visiting relatives, where the recovery of his body is memorialized at Graball Landing, and where his assailants were wrongfully acquitted at the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse. These places contain historic objects that illuminate the complicated fabric of our Nation and the injustice and inequality that Black people continue to experience today. They are places where we can learn about and reflect on the specific, painful events that ended Emmett Till’s life and the larger history of Black oppression, resistance, and resilience, which ultimately culminated in a movement that bent our Nation’s laws toward justice.
The Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse, Graball Landing, and the objects located at those sites have historic importance that arises from the roles that Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley played in the birth and early evolution of the Civil Rights Movement. Mamie Till-Mobley was born Mamie Elizabeth Carthan near Webb, Mississippi, in 1921. When Mamie was 2 years old, her family moved to the suburb of Summit on the southwest side of Chicago, Illinois, where her father found work at the Argo Corn Products Refining Company.
The Carthan family was one of many Black families who left rural southern States and moved to urban industrial centers in northern,
On July 25, 1941, Mamie gave birth to Emmett Louis Till at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. She raised Emmett among his grandparents and extended family who lived nearby.
In August 1955, when Emmett was 14 years old and on summer break from school, he convinced his mother to let him visit their extended family who lived in the Mississippi Delta. Along with his granduncle Moses Wright and 16-year-old cousin Wheeler Parker, Jr., Emmett boarded Illinois Central’s City of New Orleans train for the nearly 12-hour ride to Mississippi. Moses Wright’s oldest son, 16-year-old Maurice, met the trio at the station in Grenada, Mississippi, and they made the last 30 miles of the journey in the family’s pickup truck to stay at the Wrights’ home outside rural Money, Mississippi.
On the evening of Wednesday, August 24, 1955, Emmett joined his cousins—Maurice Wright, Wheeler Parker, Jr., and 12-year-old Simeon Wright—and several of their friends to buy candy at Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market country store in Money.
Carolyn Bryant, the white store clerk, claimed Emmett made inappropriate advances toward her—a claim disputed by Emmett’s cousins and friends. According to Till’s cousin Wheeler Parker, Jr., 14-year-old Emmett whistled at Bryant outside the store, which violated the unwritten laws of segregated society in the Mississippi Delta. The group quickly loaded back into their vehicle and fled.
At about 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, August 28, 1955, the Wright family was awakened by two armed white men, identified by Moses Wright as store owner Roy Bryant, husband of Carolyn Bryant, and his half-brother, J.W. Milam. Moses Wright testified that the two men were armed with a gun and a flashlight and were looking for the “boy that done the talking down at Money.”; The two white men directed Emmett Till to get dressed, abducted him from the Wright home, and drove away with him. Moses Wright notified the county sheriff. Within 48 hours after the abduction, J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant were arrested on kidnapping charges, and the news of Emmett Till’s abduction began to hit newspapers locally and in Chicago.
On Wednesday, August 31, 1955, Emmett Till’s body was pulled from the Tallahatchie River near Graball Landing in Tallahatchie County. Moses Wright confirmed that the badly beaten body was that of his grandnephew, Emmett Till.
Emmett Till suffered a brutal murder. His body was found with barbed wire tied around his neck and attached to a 70-pound cotton gin fan. A 2005 autopsy, prompted by the reopening of the investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, revealed fractures of both of Emmett’s wrists, a fracture of his left femur, multiple fractures of his skull, and a gunshot wound to the head.
Almost immediately after Emmett’s badly beaten body was recovered, the county sheriff directed that he be buried quickly. His body was prepared at the Tutwiler Funeral Home and a grave was being dug at the local Church of God in Christ cemetery in Money when Mamie Till-Mobley contacted her Mississippi family, interrupting the burial process and insisting that her son’s body be returned to Chicago.
Mamie Till-Mobley met her son’s body at the train station in Chicago and confirmed his identity. Defying orders from the Tutwiler Funeral Home to keep the casket sealed, Mamie Till-Mobley decided to hold an open-casket funeral. When the funeral director asked if he should retouch Emmett’s distorted face to make him more presentable, Mamie Till-Mobley responded, “Let the world see what I’ve seen.”;
The funeral service for Emmett Till began Saturday, September 3, 1955, at the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ in Bronzeville, a historically Black neighborhood on Chicago’s South Side. The church was the first that Mamie Till-Mobley’s mother attended when she moved to Chicago, and it formed a central part of the family’s life and community. Roberts Temple played a prominent role in Chicago’s Black community: it was considered the “Mother Church”; in Northern Illinois for the influential Church of God in Christ denomination and served as a hub for social, spiritual, and economic activities. The church grew considerably during the Great Migration.
When Mamie Till-Mobley arrived at the funeral service, the church’s 1,800 seats were overflowing, and an estimated 5,000 additional mourners gathered along the adjacent sidewalks, streets, church property, and surrounding blocks. Due to the overwhelming turnout, Mamie delayed Emmett’s burial to allow more time for mourners to pay their respects. Press estimates of the crowd ranged from 10,000 on the first day to as many as 125,000 people over the 3 days before Emmett’s burial on Tuesday, September 6, 1955. Today, the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ still stands as a prominent feature on State Street, as it did in 1955.
The trial for the murder of Emmett Till began just weeks after his lynching, on September 19, 1955, at the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse in Sumner, Mississippi. Between 50 and 70 reporters attended, representing southern newspapers such as the Greenville Delta Democrat-Times and the Charleston Mississippi Sun, as well as national media including the New York Times, Newsweek, and the Nation. The segregated courtroom, which has been painstakingly restored to its appearance during the trial, required Black reporters to sit behind a railing and at a table separate from white reporters. Photos from the period show a packed courtroom with a crowd gathering outside open windows to hear the trial. The New York Times described “an atmosphere of controlled hostility”; in the stifling heat of the 250-person courtroom. One night during the trial, a cross was burned in front of the hotel where the jurors were sequestered.
Throughout the trial, the town of Mound Bayou, located more than 30 miles and 2 counties away from the courthouse, served as a safe haven for Mamie Till-Mobley, Black reporters, and members of the NAACP who arrived in Mississippi. The State of Mississippi was segregated, including Mound Bayou, which was an all-Black town founded in 1887 by and for Black people. Hosting Mamie Till-Mobley and the NAACP at his home in Mound Bayou, Dr. T.R.M. Howard provided tight security with a checkpoint and round-the-clock guards to protect the trial attendees. On September 23, 1955, after a 5-day trial, an all-white jury acquitted Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam of Emmett Till’s murder after just over an hour of deliberation.
In January 1956, following their acquittal, Bryant and Milam gave a paid interview to Look magazine in which they confessed to the mur
The Graball Landing river site, located just outside Glendora, Mississippi, is the area along the Tallahatchie River where many believe Emmett Till’s body was recovered, although changes in river flows and erosion since 1955 make it difficult to determine the site with precision. Located where the Black Bayou meets the Tallahatchie River, Graball Landing is a natural break in the vegetation along the riverbank that served as a steamboat landing until 1894 and thereafter as a local fishing site. In the years that followed Emmett Till’s murder, Graball Landing became the site of a community-led memorial. In 2008, the Emmett Till Memorial Commission erected a memorial sign at Graball Landing. Within 6 months, the sign was torn down by vandals and thrown into the river. When a replacement memorial sign was erected, it was not long until the sign was riddled with bullet holes. A third memorial sign was dedicated in 2018, and about a month later, it too was scarred by gunfire. The current memorial sign at Graball Landing was dedicated on October 19, 2019—it is over an inch thick, weighs more than 500 pounds, and is bulletproof.
Emmett Till’s torture and killing was one of at least three other racially motivated murders in Mississippi during the summer of 1955. Emmett was also among the thousands of Black people killed by lynching in the United States over the 100 years following the Civil War. If Emmett Till had been buried in Mississippi, his story might have been entombed along with him. His mother’s acts of resistance and bravery in demanding her son’s body be returned to Chicago and in holding an open-casket service helped ensure Emmett’s death was not a statistic, but a spark to galvanize the Civil Rights Movement in America. Months afterward, in December 1955, Rosa Parks refused to surrender her bus seat to a white man. She later explained, “I thought of Emmett Till and I couldn’t go back.”;
The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., too, would cite Emmett Till in his sermons. He later recollected: “Emmett Till, a mere boy, unqualified to vote, but seemingly used as a victim to terrorize Negro citizens and keep them from the polls. While the blame for the grisly mutilation of Till has been placed upon two cruel men, the ultimate responsibility for this and other tragic events must rest with the American people themselves. It rests with all of us, black and white, who call ourselves civilized men. For democracy demands responsibility, courage, and the will-to-freedom from all men.”;
For the remainder of her life, well into her 80s, Mamie Till-Mobley furthered the memory of her son Emmett through her work as an educator and activist, carrying a message of healing, reconciliation, forgiveness, and hope.
Conserving the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse, and Graball Landing will ensure that the historical value of these sites will remain for the benefit of all Americans, providing opportunities to learn about Emmett Till’s life and death and the historical and cultural context interwoven with his story. Conserving these places and the resources they contain will also honor the bravery of Mamie Till-Mobley and other
WHEREAS, section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (the “Antiquities Act”;), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected; and
WHEREAS, Graball Landing has long been recognized as the location where Emmett Till’s body was recovered from the Tallahatchie River and, more recently, as a memorial site to inform and educate the public about Emmett Till’s murder; and
WHEREAS, the memorial signs placed at Graball Landing to inform the public about Emmett Till’s murder have their own important role in civil rights history, including through their repeated defacement and replacement, and thus are themselves significant cultural and historic objects; and
WHEREAS, the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ marks the location of a historic event when tens of thousands of people came together, overflowing from the church into the surrounding sidewalks and streets, to mourn the murder of a 14-year-old boy and honor the strength of his mother and, in recognition of this, the church was designated as a Chicago Landmark by the City of Chicago Commission on Chicago Landmarks on March 29, 2006; and
WHEREAS, the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse is nationally significant based on its association with the history of Jim Crow, the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, and the site of the Emmett Till murder trial in September 1955; and was designated as a Mississippi Landmark on February 28, 1990, and added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 6, 2007; and
WHEREAS, James Walker Sturdivant has donated to the Federal Government for the purpose of establishing a unit of the National Park System fee interest in approximately 4.31 acres of land in the area known as Graball Landing adjacent to the Tallahatchie River; and
WHEREAS, the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, with the support of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has donated to the Federal Government for the purpose of establishing a unit of the National Park System a Conservation Easement consisting of approximately 0.27 acres over 2 parcels, which includes the historic Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ (Church Building); a Preservation and Use Easement consisting of a lot of approximately 0.09 acres over the property immediately adjacent to the Church Building; and fee interest in approximately 0.55 acres of land currently used as the church parking lot—all of which encompass land where crowds gathered in September 1955; and
WHEREAS, Tallahatchie County has donated to the National Park Foundation fee interest in the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse and the associated Emmett Till Interpretive Center building across the street, totaling approximately 0.48 acres; and
WHEREAS, the National Park Foundation has relinquished and conveyed all of these lands and interests in lands associated with the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center building to the Federal Government for the purpose of establishing a unit of the National Park System; and
WHEREAS, the designation of a national monument to be administered by the National Park Service would recognize the historic significance of the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, the Tallahatchie County Second District Courthouse, and Graball Landing, particularly the events that transpired at these locations related to the life and death of Emmett Till, his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, and the Civil Rights Movement, and would provide a national platform for preserving and interpreting this important history; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to preserve and protect the objects of historic interest associated with the story of Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley and the birth of the American Civil Rights Movement in Illinois and Mississippi;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim, set apart, and reserve as the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument (monument), the objects identified above and all lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Government of the United States within the boundaries described on the accompanying maps entitled “Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley National Monument Boundary,”; which are attached to and form a part of this proclamation, for the purpose of protecting those objects. The reserved Federal lands and interests in lands within the monument’s boundaries encompass approximately 5.7 acres, which is the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of this monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, leasing, or other disposition under the public land laws, including withdrawal from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws, and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing. The establishment of this monument is subject to valid existing rights, including the July 21, 2023, deed for parcel 20–03–106–036 in Chicago with reserved rights for parking. Lands and interests in lands within the monument’s boundaries not owned or controlled by the United States shall be reserved as part of the monument, and objects identified above that are situated upon those lands and interests in lands shall be part of the monument, upon acquisition of ownership or control by the United States.
The Secretary of the Interior shall manage the monument through the National Park Service, pursuant to applicable legal authorities and consistent with the purposes and provisions of this proclamation. For the purpose of preserving, interpreting, and enhancing the public understanding and appreciation of the monument, the Secretary of the Interior, through the National Park Service, shall prepare a management plan for the monument. The management plan shall ensure that the monument fulfills the following purposes for the benefit of present and future generations: (1) to preserve the historic and cultural resources within the boundaries of the monument; (2) to interpret the story of
The National Park Service shall consult with appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies and nongovernmental organizations in planning for interpretation and visitor access and services at the monument.
The National Park Service is directed, as appropriate, to use applicable authorities to seek to enter into agreements with other entities to address common interests and promote management efficiencies, including the provision of visitor services, interpretation and education, establishment and care of museum collections, and preservation of historic objects. These entities may include, in Illinois, the Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, the Bronzeville-Black Metropolis National Heritage Area, and the Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute; and, in Mississippi, the Emmett Till Historic Intrepid Center, the County of Tallahatchie, the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area, and the Emmett Till Interpretive Center.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of this monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Thirty-three years ago, the Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—one of the most important civil rights laws in our history. Its tireless champion, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, celebrated with a speech on the United States Senate floor in American Sign Lan
It is hard for younger generations to imagine a world without the ADA, but before it existed, if you were disabled, stores could turn you away and employers could refuse to hire you. Transit was largely inaccessible. America simply was not built for all Americans, but courageous activists pushed to change that. In 1973, the Congress passed the landmark Rehabilitation Act, banning discrimination by any federally funded entity. Then, 17 years later, a bipartisan group of legislators persevered in passing the ADA, banning discrimination against people with disabilities in most areas of public life, from the workplace and public schools to public transit and telecommunications.
The ADA has had a profound impact, but we still have much more work to do. Disabled Americans are still three times less likely to have a job; and when they do, they often earn less for doing the same work. Voting locations, transit, and public spaces are too often inaccessible. And we need to continue building a culture that not only protects disability rights but also celebrates disability pride.
My Administration has worked hard to build on the ADA’s foundation. Soon after I came into office, I signed an Executive Order advancing opportunities for people with disabilities in the Federal workforce; and we are helping State and local governments, employers, and nonprofits tap Federal funds to hire more Americans with disabilities as well. We ended the use of unjust sub-minimum wages in Federal contracts, and the Department of Labor is working around the clock to protect the rights of disabled workers. The Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services also developed guidance for emergency responders to better protect the rights of people with disabilities. And to ensure that every American has the opportunity to exercise their fundamental right to vote, I signed an Executive Order directing agencies to make voter registration and information about voting resources more accessible.
We are also rebuilding our Nation’s infrastructure and making transit and public spaces more accessible. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes our Nation’s biggest investment ever in accessible transit. This includes $1.75 billion to repair and improve accessibility in transit stations across America—including in some of our oldest and busiest railways. This historic investment also expands access to high-speed Internet, so millions of disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home. The Department of Transportation is working to improve air travel for all, including for people who use wheelchairs. And the United States Access Board is developing new guidelines under the ADA that will improve the accessibility of sidewalks, streets, crosswalks, and other public rights of way.
We also know the isolation and loss of the pandemic hit the disability community especially hard. That is a big reason why we provided tens of billions of dollars to States to expand Medicaid—an essential lifeline for 21 million Americans, including many in the disability community. And last month, I worked with members of the Congress to reach a bi
The ADA is an essential foundation to this continued work—a reminder that we can still do big things in America when we come together. For over 61 million disabled Americans, it is much more than a law—it is the key to equality, opportunity, and independence. And for our country, it is a testament to our character and commitment to keep pushing to finally realize the full promise of America for all Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 26, 2023, as the Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. I encourage Americans to celebrate the 33rd year of this defining moment in Civil Rights law and the essential contributions of individuals with disabilities to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the Alliance between the United States and the Republic of Korea—an unbreakable bond forged by American and Korean service members who fought side-by-side from 1950 to 1953. These patriots braved dangers and deprivations, facing down war and death in defense of democracy. Today, we remember their service. Together, we honor their sacrifice—including more than 36,000 Americans and more than 7,000 Korean Augmentation to the United States Army soldiers who laid down their lives for a world of greater liberty and freedom.
During President Yoon’s recent trip to the United States, we visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial—laying wreaths in honor of the brave Korean and American women and men who served and sacrificed. It was a solemn reminder that our Alliance was not born out of shared borders but shared beliefs—including democracy, security, and freedom. Today, those beliefs are upheld by the thousands of Korean and American troops who continue to stand together on the Korean Peninsula. And they remain the source of our shared strength—keeping the
Today, we also pause to remember the thousands of United States troops who went missing in action during the Korean War. That includes Army Corporal Luther H. Story, who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his extraordinary heroism during a battle on the Pusan Perimeter in 1950. Our Nation was able to bring Corporal Story home this year when his remains were finally identified and returned to his family. And we will never stop working to bring home every one of our missing heroes.
Today—70 years after the armistice was signed by representatives of the United States as head of the United Nations Command, the People’s Republic of China, and North Korea—let us honor the Korean War Veterans who fought to defend the security and stability we enjoy today. Let us renew our commitment to the democratic values for which they served and sacrificed. And together, let us continue to ensure that our Alliance with the Republic of Korea continues to contribute to global peace and prosperity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim July 27, 2023, as National Korean War Veterans Armistice Day. On this day, I encourage all Americans to reflect on the strength, sacrifices, and sense of duty of our Korean War Veterans and bestow upon them the high honor they deserve. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities that honor and give thanks to our distinguished Korean War Veterans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of July, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Every year, our Nation’s nearly 1,400 federally funded community health centers provide critical, accessible, and affordable medical, dental, and behavioral health care to over 30 million Americans. Spread across every State and territory, these vital health care centers help make real the promise that health care in this country should be a right, not a privilege. During National Health Center Week, we celebrate their dedicated staff and recommit to providing the resources these vital centers need to continue protecting the well-being of the American people.
From the beginning of my Administration, we have made historic investments to strengthen our Nation’s community health center network. Through the American Rescue Plan, we invested $7.6 billion to grow the health center workforce, update facilities, and provide them with the necessary resources to fight the COVID–19 pandemic. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is rebuilding our roads, highways, water systems, and high-speed internet to better connect people and places with the care they need. My latest Budget would renew critical support for the Health Center Program and put it on a path to double its size and expand its reach.
Community health centers are key to tackling health care disparities in underserved communities. By improving access to screenings, they bring us closer to ending cancer as we know it, which is the goal of my Cancer Moonshot Initiative. By connecting more Americans to behavioral health services, they build an infrastructure of service that addresses mental health needs—a key pillar of my Unity Agenda. By supporting the delivery of pregnancy-related care, they improve the lives of mothers and children across the country.
Time and again, evidence reveals that health centers make a powerful difference in the communities they serve. During the height of the COVID–19 pandemic, community health care centers distributed over 20 million vaccines—nearly 70 percent of which went to people of color and more than 20 percent to those who lived in rural areas. In these ways, they help bridge a critical gap in access to lifesaving prevention and treatment. And because of their patient-majority governing board structure, health centers ensure that their mission and decision-making are informed not only by medical experts but, principally, by the people they serve.
These investments are a matter of human dignity and fairness. When we fail to invest in the health outcomes of some communities, we all suffer. But when we take the necessary actions to improve care in every zip code, we are all better for it.
This week, we thank the heroic health center staff on the front lines of improving lives. We acknowledge your sacrifice and courage, especially at the height of the pandemic. We are grateful for your daily work that saves lives and protects the future of our country. You make the promise of America real—a promise to lift everyone up and leave no one behind. My Administration is committed to supporting you as you make our Nation healthier, more resilient, and more just.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the week of August 6 through August 12, 2023, as National Health Center Week.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Since time immemorial, many Tribes of the Southwest have lived and prayed among the canyons and plateaus of a landscape unlike any other in the world. The region is described in numerous languages. Many of the Indigenous names for the area reflect the deep interconnection between the land and its Tribal Nations. For example, the Havasupai call it baaj nwaavjo, or “where Indigenous peoples roam.”; To the Hopi, it is i’tah kukveni, or “our ancestral footprints.”; In English, we call the canyon that lies at the center of this region “the Grand Canyon.”;
In addition to its profound historical, cultural, and religious significance, the Grand Canyon region is known around the world for containing some of the greatest natural wonders on the planet. The area supports remarkable geology and a diversity of wildlife and plants that flourish in its vast and well-connected ecosystem.
The Grand Canyon region has played a central role in America’s conservation history. In 1893, 2 years after the establishment of the National Forest System, the area was designated as the Grand Canyon Forest Reserve. In 1908, 2 years after the Congress passed the Antiquities Act, President Theodore Roosevelt used his authority under the Act to protect some of the deepest canyons along the Colorado River as a national monument. In 1919, 3 years after the establishment of the National Park Service, the Congress created Grand Canyon National Park. Today, millions of people from around the world come to the Grand Canyon region each year to visit, learn in, and explore the national park and the plateaus and canyons that surround it. The conservation and stewardship of the broader Grand Canyon region have helped safeguard the integrity of vital natural resources important to the Nation’s health and well-being, including clean drinking water that flows through the region’s springs and streams and into the Colorado River, before eventually reaching the taps of millions of homes across the Southwest.
The history of the lands and resources in the Grand Canyon region also tells a painful story about the forced removal and dispossession of Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples. The Federal Government used the establishment of Grand Canyon National Park to justify denying Indigenous peoples access to their homelands, preventing them from engaging in traditional cultural and religious practices within the boundaries of the park. Despite these barriers, Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples persevered and continued to conduct their long-standing practices on sacred homelands just outside the boundaries of the national park, among the vast landscapes of plateaus, canyons, and tributaries of the Colorado River.
The lands outside of the national park contain myriad sensitive and distinctive resources that contribute to the Grand Canyon region’s re
Much of the health and vitality of the Grand Canyon region today is attributable to the tireless work of Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples, the lands’ first and steadfast stewards. In the tradition of their ancestors, who fought to defend the sovereignty of their nations and to regain access to places and sites essential to their cultural and traditional practices, Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples have remained resolute in their commitment to protect the landscapes of the region, which are integral to their identity and indispensable to the health and well-being of millions of people living in the Southwest.
Efforts to address the legacy of dispossession and exclusion of Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples in the Grand Canyon region and to conserve the region’s cultural and natural resources beyond the boundaries of Grand Canyon National Park span several decades. In 1975, the Congress took a first step toward addressing these earlier injustices when it restored lands along the Grand Canyon’s rim to the Havasupai Tribe and established cultural use lands as part of an expansion of Grand Canyon National Park. More recently, legislation has been introduced in multiple Congresses to permanently conserve the lands to the south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park for the benefit of Tribes, the public, and future generations. In addition, in 2012, the Secretary of the Interior withdrew many of these lands from the location of new mining claims for a 20-year period.
Conserving lands that stretch beyond Grand Canyon National Park through an abiding partnership between the United States and the region’s Tribal Nations will ensure that current and future generations can learn from and experience the compelling and abundant historic and scientific objects found there, and will also serve as an important next step in understanding and addressing past injustices.
The natural and cultural objects of the lands have historic and scientific value that is unique, rich, and well-documented. The sweeping plateaus to the south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park constitute three distinct areas, each of which is an integral part of the broader Grand Canyon ecosystem. The northwestern area, which is administered by both the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) within the Department of Agriculture, begins at the western edge of the Kanab watershed and northern boundary of Grand Canyon National Park and stretches north to the Shinarump Cliffs and Moonshine Ridge. The northeastern area primarily includes parts of House Rock Valley, which are administered by the BLM and the Forest Service, and extends west from Marble Canyon along the Colorado River to the edge of the Kaibab Plateau. The southern area includes a portion of the Coconino Plateau to the south of Grand Canyon National Park that is managed by the Forest Service, and extends from the border of the Havasupai Indian Reservation in the west to the Navajo Nation in the east.
While the greater Grand Canyon region is indisputably a cultural resource in its entirety, the landscapes in these three discrete areas are themselves historically and scientifically significant. They give context to the individual geologic features and other resources found there, contain numerous archaeological sites, and provide havens for sensitive and endangered species—including the California condor, desert bighorn sheep, and endemic plant and animal species—all of which constitute objects of independent historic or scientific interest. The landscapes are also integrally connected to the Indigenous Knowledge amassed by the Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples in the area over countless generations. Some of the objects in these areas are sacred to Tribal Nations; are sensitive, rare, or vulnerable to vandalism and theft; or are unsafe to visit. Therefore, revealing their specific names or locations could pose a danger to the objects or to the public.
These areas lie within the homelands of numerous Tribal Nations—including the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni, and the Colorado River Indian Tribes—who describe the lands here as a cultural landscape to which their ancestors belong. The surrounding plateaus, canyons, and tributaries of the Colorado River are central and sacred components of the origin and history of multiple Tribal Nations, weaving together overlapping spiritual, cultural, and territorial systems. Many Tribes note that their ancestors are buried here and refer to these areas as their eternal home, a place of healing, and a source of spiritual sustenance. Like their ancestors, Indigenous peoples continue to use these areas for religious ceremonies; hunting; and gathering of plants, medicines, and other materials, including some found nowhere else on Earth.
The areas to the south, northeast, and northwest of Grand Canyon National Park contain over 3,000 known cultural and historic sites, including 12 properties listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and likely a great many more in areas not yet surveyed. All three areas contain locations that are sacred or significant to the Apache, Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Navajo, Southern Paiute, Yavapai, and Zuni Peoples, whose ancestors lived, hunted, farmed, and gathered here, some moving among camps in different places to take advantage of the best seasonal times and locations to hunt or harvest resources. More than 50 species of plants that grow in these areas, including catsclaw, willow, soapweed, and piñon, have been identified as important to Tribal Nations. Historic shared use by different Tribes of the plateaus in the three areas, including for farming, hunting, and resource gathering on the Coconino Plateau, helped build strong, intergenerational relationships among the Tribal Nations that call this region home.
For hundreds of years, Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples used trails across portions of all three distinct landscapes to access sacred or important sites in surrounding areas such as the Grand Canyon, Mount Trumbull, and the Hopi salt mine. For example, routes throughout the southern area connect the Grand Canyon with the Paiute, Hopi, and Navajo homelands. Historically significant pathways in all three areas can still be seen on the landscape, and in many cases, they continue to be actively used.
In the northwestern area, within the larger Kanab Creek drainage and particularly along Kanab Creek, there is evidence of ancient villages and habitations, including cliff houses, storage sites, granaries, pictographs, and pottery. The Kanab Plateau contains dwelling sites, including one known to have been occupied nearly 1,000 years ago, evidencing agricultural use and hunting by early inhabitants. The Kaibab Band of Paiute farmed in the area, which served as an important trade and transportation route, resource procurement and hunting area, and refuge during Euro-American encroachment into traditional territories. The pictographs and petroglyphs found in the Kanab Creek drainage present a spectacular collection of rock art. One pictograph and petroglyph site in Kanab Creek Canyon has been used for over 2,000 years, including for Ghost Dance ceremonies in the 19th century. Also in the northwest, the BLM manages the Moonshine Spring and its associated historic cultural sites as the Moonshine Ridge Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Nearby Antelope Spring, Shinarump Cliffs, and Yellowstone Spring house historically important cultural sites, and the northwestern portion of the area is a historically significant resource and hunting area for the Southern Paiute.
In House Rock Valley in the northeastern area, many remnants of homes, storage buildings, pottery, and tools illustrate the area’s rich and extensive human history. The area has long been historically important to Tribal Nations for hunting and resource gathering, including to the Kaibab Band of Paiute for hunting deer and pronghorn and gathering piñon nuts, and to the San Juan Paiute for seasonal seed collection.
In the southern area, visible for miles in all directions, rises Red Butte, a towering landmark that is eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places as a traditional cultural property. Called Wii’i Gdwiisa by the Havasupai and Tsé zhin Ii’ahi by the Navajo, it is defined by an eroded rock and basalt cap from ancient lava and is sacred to the Havasupai, Hualapai, Navajo, Hopi, and Zuni Peoples. Red Butte and the surrounding area are central to Tribal creation stories, and dense concentration of flaked stone tools and pottery provide evidence of thousands of years of human habitation there. Additionally, more recent Navajo and Havasupai encampments in the area date to the early to middle 1900s. South of Red Butte, Gray Mountain, called Dziłbeeh by the Navajo, is mentioned in Navajo ceremonial songs, stories, and rituals, and has long served as a refuge for the Navajo people.
There are many other physical remnants of human habitation in the southern area, including lithic sites containing stone tools that may be more than 10,000 years old and more recent sites containing finely decorated pottery sherds that are between 800 and 1,100 years old. Across the southern area, there is evidence of tool production using local materials and the historic use of fire for land management. Rock paintings, cave shelters, shrines, pit houses, masonry structures, and sites for religious ceremonies can be found throughout.
The southern area also provides important opportunities for research about ancient occupation, including a long-term archaeological study area in the upper basin of the Coconino Plateau where research has been conducted for decades. This study area has led to research on the sourcing of materials for pottery, the conditions that influenced where people lived and congregated, the history and use of anthropogenic fire, methods for recording archaeological sites, methods for protecting
A defining feature of the three areas is their unique sedimentary and tectonic history, which has resulted in high scientific interest and made the groundwater dynamics of the region among the best studied in the United States. Subsequent studies of the areas’ hydrology may prove important to understanding the formation of the Grand Canyon and the dynamics of groundwater and aquifers in the arid Colorado Plateau. Groundwater moving through this complex and distinctive system eventually flows into the meandering and majestic Colorado River, across hundreds of miles of arid and desert lands. The areas’ unique hydrology has supported Indigenous peoples and other forms of life since time immemorial and continues to play an essential role in providing drinking water and supporting agricultural production and other services for millions of people across the Southwest.
The three areas’ extensive fractures and faults direct the flow of water, resulting in the formation of seeps and springs that serve as small oases in the otherwise hot, dry landscape, and support some of the most biodiverse habitats in the Colorado Plateau. The hydrologic features of these landscapes are unique and highly interconnected, with groundwater moving through the Redwall-Muav aquifer in the south and through fractures and linked cave passages. The Havasupai and Hualapai Tribes, as well as the town of Tusayan, Arizona, and other towns in the region, rely on the southern area’s groundwater. Ultimately, the areas’ groundwater flows to the surrounding tributaries, into the Colorado River, and through the Grand Canyon, serving as one of many features tying this landscape together. Much of the water in the areas to the northeast, northwest, and south of the Grand Canyon, from creeks to streams, only runs seasonally based on melting snowpack and monsoon rains.
The geology and hydrologic system of the Grand Canyon and these three landscapes are deeply intertwined. Located within the Colorado Plateau and adjacent to the Grand Canyon, the areas’ remarkable geology is characterized by exposed sedimentary rock and high, sometimes deeply incised, plateaus. The Mississippian-aged Redwall Limestone, known for the stunning red cliffs of the Grand Canyon itself, is present throughout the three landscapes and is the most abundant component of the Redwall-Muav aquifer. This aquifer overlaps with the southern portion of the Grand Canyon landscape, underneath the Coconino Plateau. Dissolution of the Redwall and associated Muav limestones has resulted in the formation of hundreds of karst features such as caves, caverns, and channels.
In the northeastern area, the Glen Canyon Group—a geologic formation composed of Navajo Sandstone, the Kayenta Formation, and the Moenave Formation—represents a continuation of the strikingly beautiful and significant geology found at the adjacent Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. The Kaibab Formation, another geologic formation that is prevalent throughout all three areas, forms most of the rim rock of the Grand Canyon and is responsible for additional significant cave
The Toroweap Fault crosses the northwestern area and is one of the most active faults in Arizona. Due to the relative prevalence of seismic activity, scientists have studied the area to better understand tectonism and faulting, the geologic history of the Colorado Plateau, and the hydrologic history of the Colorado River. Similarly, the Kanab Plateau, also in the northwestern area, has been important for studies of faulting and tectonism, stratigraphy and sediment deposition, and hydrology.
In the northeastern area, scientists have studied the House Rock Valley, known in the Southern Paiute language as Aesak, meaning “basket shaped,”; to understand patterns of deposition and erosion. Stratigraphy—the study of rock layers—in this area has been important for developing a broader understanding of how the Grand Canyon formed.
In the southern area, the Coconino Plateau provides important opportunities to enhance understanding of tectonic uplift, canyon incision, and hydrological dynamics of regional aquifers. Over time, studies of the landscape’s geology have also helped improve understanding of the geologic history of the Grand Canyon and Colorado Plateau as a whole. These studies have produced new theories regarding when and how the geologic structures in the area formed or eroded. Sites in this landscape have also been instrumental to long-term scientific studies of air pollution, airborne particulates, and visibility, as well as to studies on the use of satellite imagery to map geological formations. Paleontological resources are also found throughout the area, with fossils documented in written scientific literature for nearly 150 years. The Kanab Creek area in particular is known for brachiopod fossils that date back to the Carboniferous period.
The areas to the northeast, northwest, and south of the Grand Canyon are home to an abundant diversity of plant and animal species of scientific interest. Spanning a vast and unique range of geological and ecological systems, the areas showcase ecological transitions, ranging from the Mojave Desert and riparian habitats at low elevations; to Great Basin grassland, Great Basin woodland, and Great Basin desert scrubland at intermediate elevations; to Rocky Mountain subalpine conifer forests, subalpine grasslands, and montane conifer forests at higher elevations. Ponderosa pine stands, some with old growth characteristics, can also be found at higher elevations.
Riparian vegetation in the area is rare and precious in this largely arid region. The northwest area houses parts of Kanab Creek, a stream with largely intermittent flow that is home to native riparian plant species. The occasional perennial pools help to support the Kaibab National Forest’s only cottonwood-willow riparian forest, an important habitat type in Arizona and the broader Southwest. Kanab Creek provides a habitat for federally listed bird species, including potentially the threatened western yellow-billed cuckoo and endangered southwestern willow flycatcher, both of which have been sighted nearby. The creek also provides a habitat for sensitive amphibian species, including potentially the northern leopard frog.
In the grasslands found throughout the northwestern and southern areas, dominant vegetation species include native grasses, shrubs such as sagebrush and saltbush, and nearby juniper woodlands and savan
Within the Great Basin desert-scrub habitat of the northwestern and northeastern areas, shrub species such as sagebrush and rabbitbrush grow alongside native grasses, wildflowers and other forbs, and occasionally cacti. This habitat type is home to unique mammal species including the Townsend’s ground squirrel, the northern grasshopper mouse, and the more broadly distributed mule deer and bighorn sheep. Birds and reptiles characteristic of this community include the sage thrasher, sage sparrow, desert horned lizard, and Great Basin and Plateau tiger whiptails. The northeastern area also includes a portion of an important fall raptor migration route. The endangered Brady pincushion cactus and candidate species Paradine plains cactus, along with the sensitive Marble Canyon milkvetch and Paria Plateau fishhook cactus, can all be found in the northeastern area. The Siler pincushion cactus can be found in the far reaches of the northwestern area, particularly in the Moonshine Ridge and Johnson Springs Areas of Critical Environmental Concern.
Piñon and juniper woodlands are present at intermediate elevations and are particularly prevalent in the northwestern and southern areas. The piñon and juniper trees are accompanied by a sparse understory of native grasses and shrubs. This community is home to birds such as the pinyon jay and juniper titmouse. Along with characteristic reptiles and small mammals, this ecosystem also provides important winter range for elk and mule deer.
Petran montane conifer forests are found at the highest elevations, primarily in the southern area. Ponderosa pine dominates these forests, but Douglas fir, white fir, Gambel oak, and other tree and brush species can also be found there. Several mammal species are dependent on ponderosa pine, including the Abert’s squirrel. Bird species representative of this area include the northern goshawk, Merriam’s turkey, and a variety of raptors and neotropical migratory songbirds. Elk and mountain lions are also found there.
The landscape is also home to other significant species of scientific interest. The endemic Grand Canyon ringlet butterfly and Tusayan rabbitbrush are present in the southern area, as may be the endangered and endemic Sentry milkvetch. The endangered Fickeisen plains cactus can be found in all three areas. The endemic Kaibab monkey grasshopper occasionally can be found along the eastern edge of the Kaibab uplift in the northeastern area. The endemic Grand Canyon rose, which has been identified as at risk by the BLM (termed BLM-sensitive), can be found in the northwestern area, the northeastern area, and potentially also the southern area.
The area provides an important habitat for many notable mammal species, including desert bighorn sheep, which frequent canyons in the area. Kanab Creek’s Hack Canyon is one of two canyons where sheep were extirpated and reintroduced in the 1980s, and the population there is studied for its contributions to genetic diversity of the species and to enhance understanding of predation by mountain lions. Pronghorn, elk, bison, and mountain lions can be found on and around
Cliffs and rock outcrops throughout the landscapes are home to unique birds including peregrine falcons, bald eagles, golden eagles, and a reintroduced population of endangered California condors. The threatened Mexican spotted owl nests in the northwestern area. Over time, the area has been scientifically important for ecological studies of climate change, ecosystem ecology, vegetation communities, historical fire regimes, and bat ecology. The area also contains all or portions of five separate habitat linkages identified as important to wildlife habitat connectivity and threatened by development by the Arizona Wildlife Linkages Workgroup, a working group of public and private organizations and agencies in Arizona.
In addition to sustaining Indigenous peoples, vegetation, and wildlife since time immemorial, the northeastern, northwestern, and southern areas also have supported more recent Euro-American settlers. For example, visitors to the northwestern part of this area can trace the route taken by the 1776 Dominguez-Escalante expedition in search of a northern route between Santa Fe and Monterrey. Mormon settlers in the late 19th century developed the Honeymoon Trail in the northeastern area to travel between their homes in Arizona and the temple in St. George, Utah, following trails used by Tribal Nations to access sites such as Deer and House Rock Springs.
These settlers, along with early miners, loggers, and ranchers, left behind scattered remnants of their presence throughout the areas. Hull Cabin, built in 1889 by sheep ranchers within the southern area and near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The cabin is currently maintained for visitors and memorializes the area’s early ranching and early Forest Service administrative use of the area. The Emerald/Anita mine and associated Camp Anita, which briefly operated at the end of the 19th century, evidences Arizona’s copper mining history, while the Apex Logging Camp contains evidence of the timber industry between 1928 and 1936 and is the focus of ongoing research by an archaeological field school. Located at the top of the steepest grade on the Grand Canyon Railroad line, the town of Apex was once the headquarters camp of the Saginaw and Manistee Lumber Company and provided wood that was used to build the railroad, timber the mines, and construct the resorts along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Remnants of these structures, such as the foundation of a one-room school house constructed from two converted box cars, building platforms, domestic trash scatters, and railroad beds can still be seen today and help tell the story of Apex and its outlying camps, which between 1928 and 1936 provided a home for lumberjacks and locomotive crews.
The southern area also includes three other noteworthy historic sites: The decommissioned Red Butte Airfield, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, operated in the 1920s to bring visitors, including celebrities like Amelia Earhart, Charles Lindbergh, and Will Rogers, to view the wonders of the Grand Canyon. The Grandview Lookout Tower and its two-room cabin, located near the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936 to aid the Forest Service and the National Park Service in detecting wildland fires. And the Tusayan Ranger Station, which is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, comprises six historic buildings constructed between 1939 and 1942, including a house, a barn, and a corral.
Protecting the areas to the northeast, northwest, and south of the Grand Canyon will preserve an important spiritual, cultural, prehistoric, and historic legacy; maintain a diverse array of natural and scientific resources; and help ensure that the prehistoric, historic, and scientific value of the areas endures for the benefit of all Americans. As described above, the areas contain numerous objects of historic and scientific interest, and they provide exceptional outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, hunting, fishing, biking, horseback riding, backpacking, scenic driving, and wildlife-viewing, all of which are important to the travel- and tourism-based economy of the region.
WHEREAS, section 320301 of title 54, United States Code (the “Antiquities Act”;), authorizes the President, in his discretion, to declare by public proclamation historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest that are situated upon the lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be national monuments, and to reserve as a part thereof parcels of land, the limits of which shall be confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected; and
WHEREAS, the landscapes of the areas to the northeast, northwest, and south of the Grand Canyon have been profoundly sacred to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples of the Southwest since time immemorial; and
WHEREAS, I find that the unique historic and scientific characteristics of the landscapes, and the collection of objects and resources therein, make the landscapes more than the mere sum of their parts, and thus the entire landscapes within the boundaries of each area reserved by this proclamation are themselves objects of historic and scientific interest in need of protection under section 320301 of title 54, United States Code; and
WHEREAS, I find that all the objects identified above are objects of historic or scientific interest in need of protection under section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, regardless of whether they are expressly identified as objects of historic or scientific interest in the text of this proclamation; and
WHEREAS, I find that there are threats to the objects identified above, and, in the absence of a reservation under the Antiquities Act, these objects are not adequately protected by the current withdrawal, administrative designations, or otherwise applicable law because current protections do not require executive departments and agencies (agencies) to ensure the proper care and management of the objects and some ob
WHEREAS, I find that the boundaries of the monument reserved by this proclamation represent the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects of scientific or historic interest identified above, as required by the Antiquities Act, including the landscapes within the boundaries of the three areas reserved and, independently, the collection of objects within those landscapes; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to ensure the preservation, restoration, and protection of the objects of scientific and historic interest identified above, including the entire landscapes within the boundaries reserved by this proclamation;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by section 320301 of title 54, United States Code, hereby proclaim the objects identified above that are situated upon lands and interests in lands owned or controlled by the Federal Government to be the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument (monument) and, for the purpose of protecting those objects, reserve as part thereof all lands and interests in lands that are owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying map, which is attached hereto and forms a part of this proclamation. These reserved Federal lands and interests in lands encompass approximately 917,618 acres. As a result of the distribution of the objects across the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon areas, and additionally and independently, because the landscapes within each of the three monument areas are objects of scientific and historic interest in need of protection, the boundaries described on the accompanying map are confined to the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects of historic or scientific interest identified above.
All Federal lands and interests in lands within the boundaries of the monument are hereby appropriated and withdrawn from all forms of entry, location, selection, sale, or other disposition under the public land laws or laws applicable to the Forest Service, other than by exchange that furthers the protective purposes of the monument; from location, entry, and patent under the mining laws; and from disposition under all laws relating to mineral and geothermal leasing.
This proclamation is subject to valid existing rights. If the Federal Government subsequently acquires any lands or interests in lands not currently owned or controlled by the Federal Government within the boundaries described on the accompanying map, such lands and interests in lands shall be reserved as a part of the monument, and objects of the type identified above that are situated upon those lands and interests in lands shall be part of the monument, upon acquisition of ownership or control by the Federal Government.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to alter the valid existing water rights of any party, including the United States, or to alter or affect agreements governing the management and administration of the Colorado River, including any existing interstate water compact.
The Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture (Secretaries) shall manage the monument through the BLM and Forest Service, respectively, in accordance with the terms, conditions, and management direction provided by this proclamation. The Forest Service shall manage the portion of the monument within the boundaries of the National Forest System and the BLM shall manage the remainder of the monument. The lands administered by the Forest Service shall be managed as part of the Kaibab National Forest. The lands administered by the BLM shall be managed as a unit of the National Landscape Conservation System.
For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified above, the Secretaries shall jointly prepare a management plan for the monument and shall promulgate such rules and regulations for the management of the monument as they deem appropriate for those purposes. The Secretaries, through the BLM and Forest Service, shall consult with other Federal land management agencies or agency components in the local area, including the National Park Service, in developing the management plan. In promulgating any management rules and regulations governing National Forest System lands within the monument and developing the management plan, the Secretary of Agriculture, through the Forest Service, shall consult with the Secretary of the Interior, through the BLM.
The Secretaries shall provide for maximum public involvement in the development of the management plan, as well as consultation with federally recognized Tribal Nations and conferral with State and local governments. In preparing the management plan, the Secretaries shall take into account, to the maximum extent practicable, maintaining the undeveloped character of the lands within the monument; minimizing impacts from surface-disturbing activities; providing appropriate access for livestock grazing, recreation, hunting, fishing, dispersed camping, wildlife management, and scientific research; and emphasizing the retention of natural quiet, dark night skies and scenic attributes of the landscape. In the development and implementation of the management plan, the Secretaries shall maximize opportunities, pursuant to applicable legal authorities, for shared resources, operational efficiency, and cooperation, and shall, to the maximum extent practicable, carefully incorporate the Indigenous Knowledge or special expertise offered by Tribal Nations and work with Tribal Nations to appropriately protect that knowledge.
The Secretaries shall explore opportunities for Tribal Nations to participate in co-stewardship of the monument; explore entering into cooperative agreements or, pursuant to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. 5301 et seq., contracts with Tribes or Tribal organizations to perform administrative or management functions within the monument; and explore providing technical and financial assistance to improve the capacity of Tribal Nations to develop, enter into, and carry out activities under such cooperative agreements or contracts. The Secretaries shall further explore opportunities for funding agreements with Tribal Nations relating to the management and protection of traditional cultural properties and other culturally significant programming associated with the monument.
The Secretaries shall consider appropriate mechanisms to provide for temporary closures to the general public of specific portions of the
The Secretaries, through the BLM and Forest Service, shall establish an advisory committee under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5 U.S.C. 1001 et seq., to provide information and advice regarding the development of the management plan and, as appropriate, management of the monument. The advisory committee shall consist of a fair and balanced representation of interested stakeholders, including the Arizona Game and Fish Department; other State agencies and local governments; Tribal Nations; recreational users; conservation organizations; wildlife, hunting, and fishing organizations; the scientific community; the ranching community; business owners; and the general public in the region.
In recognition of the importance of collaboration with Tribal Nations to the proper care and management of the objects identified above, and to ensure that management of the monument reflects tribal expertise and Indigenous Knowledge, a Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni—Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon Commission (Commission) is hereby established to provide guidance and recommendations on the development and implementation of the management plan and on the management of the monument. The Commission shall consist of one elected officer each from any Tribal Nation with ancestral ties to the area that has entered a cooperative agreement or similar arrangement with the Secretaries, through the BLM or Forest Service, in which the Tribal Nation and the Secretaries agree to co-stewardship of the monument through shared responsibilities or administration; has expressed, by Tribal resolution, an intention to join the Commission; and has designated an elected officer as the respective Tribe’s representative. The Commission may adopt such procedures as it deems necessary to govern its activities, so that it may effectively partner with agencies by making continuing contributions to inform decisions regarding the management of the monument. The Secretaries shall explore opportunities to provide support to the Commission to enable participation in the planning and management of the monument.
The Secretaries shall meaningfully engage the Commission, or, should the Commission no longer exist, the relevant Tribal Nations through some other entity composed of one elected Tribal government officer from each of the Tribes represented on the Commission (comparable entity), in the development of the management plan and to inform the subsequent management of the monument. To that end, the Secretaries shall, in developing, revising, or amending the management plan, carefully and fully consider integrating the Indigenous Knowledge and special expertise of the members of the Commission or comparable entity. The management plan for the monument shall also set forth parameters for continued meaningful engagement with the Commission or comparable entity in the implementation of the management plan.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to alter, modify, abrogate, enlarge, or diminish the rights or jurisdiction of any Tribal Nation. The Secretaries shall, to the maximum extent permitted by law and in consultation with Tribal Nations, ensure the protection of sacred sites and cultural properties and sites in the monument and shall provide access to Tribal members for traditional cultural, spiritual, and customary uses, consistent with the American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. 1996), the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (42
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to preclude the renewal or assignment of, or interfere with the operation, maintenance, replacement, modification, upgrade, or access to, existing or previously approved flood control, utility, pipeline, and telecommunications sites or facilities; roads or highway corridors; seismic monitoring facilities; wildlife management structures; or water infrastructure, including wildlife water developments or water district facilities, within the boundaries of existing or previously approved authorizations within the monument. Existing or previously approved flood control, utility, pipeline, telecommunications, and seismic monitoring facilities; roads or highway corridors; wildlife management structures; and water infrastructure, including wildlife water developments or water district facilities, may be expanded, and new facilities of such kind may be constructed, to the extent consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above and subject to the Secretaries’ authorities, other applicable law, and the provisions of this proclamation related to roads and trails.
For purposes of protecting and restoring the objects identified above, the Secretaries shall prepare a transportation plan that designates the roads and trails on which motorized and non-motorized mechanized vehicle use, including mountain biking, will be allowed. The transportation plan shall include management decisions, including road closures and travel restrictions consistent with applicable law, necessary to protect the objects identified in this proclamation. Except for emergency purposes, authorized administrative purposes, wildlife management conducted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the retrieval of legally harvested elk and bison, which are otherwise consistent with applicable law, motorized vehicle use in the monument may be permitted only on roads and trails documented as existing in BLM and Forest Service route inventories that exist as of the date of this proclamation. Any additional roads or trails designated for motorized vehicle use must be designated only for public safety needs or the protection of the objects identified above.
The Secretaries shall explore mechanisms, consistent with applicable law, to enable the protection of Indigenous Knowledge or other information relating to the nature and specific location of cultural resources within the monument and, to the extent practicable, shall explain any limitations on the ability to protect such information from disclosure before it is shared with agencies.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to prohibit grazing pursuant to existing leases or permits within the monument, or the renewal or assignment of such leases or permits, which the BLM and Forest Service shall continue to manage pursuant to their respective laws, regulations, and policies.
Nothing in this proclamation shall affect the BLM’s or Forest Service’s ability to authorize access to and remediation or monitoring of contaminated lands within the monument, including for remediation of mine, mill, or tailing sites, or for the restoration of natural resources.
Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude low-level overflights of military aircraft, flight testing or evaluation, the designation of new units of special use airspace, the use or establishment of military flight training routes, or low-level overflights and landings for wildlife management conducted by the Arizona Game and Fish Department over the lands reserved by this proclamation. Nothing in this proclamation shall preclude air or ground access to existing or new electronic tracking communications sites associated with special use airspace and military training routes.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to enlarge or diminish the jurisdiction or authority of the State of Arizona with respect to fish and wildlife management, including hunting and fishing, on the lands reserved by this proclamation, or to affect the State’s access to the monument for wildlife management, including access prior to and during the development of the management and transportation plans provided for above. The Secretaries shall seek to develop and implement science-based habitat and ecological restoration projects within the monument and shall seek to collaborate with the State of Arizona on wildlife management within the monument, including through the development of new, or the continuation of existing, memoranda of understanding with the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The Secretaries may carry out vegetative management treatments within the monument to the extent consistent with the proper care and management of the objects identified above, with a focus on addressing ecological restoration; wildlife connectivity; or the risk of wildfire, insect infestation, invasive species, or disease that would endanger the objects identified in this proclamation or imperil public safety. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to alter the authority of any party with respect to the use of prescribed fire within the monument.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to alter the authority or responsibility of any party with respect to emergency response activities within the monument, including wildland fire response.
Nothing in this proclamation shall be deemed to revoke any existing withdrawal, reservation, or appropriation; however, the monument shall be the dominant reservation.
Warning is hereby given to all unauthorized persons not to appropriate, injure, destroy, or remove any feature of the monument and not to locate or settle upon any of the lands thereof.
If any provision of this proclamation, including its application to a particular parcel of land, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and its application to other parcels of land shall not be affected thereby.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The United States military is the greatest fighting force in the history of the world—and that’s in no small part due to our National Guard and Reserve members, who stand ready to defend our Nation at a moment’s notice. Just as these brave women and men have shown ultimate faith to our country, many of their employers have gone above and beyond to keep faith with them. This week, we honor our Guard and Reserve troops for all that they sacrifice to keep our country and their communities safe. And we thank their employers, whose support makes their service possible.
Our National Guard and Reserve members are not only a source of pride for the military, they are also often the bedrock of their communities. While serving as citizen Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard and Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen of the Reserve, they serve as teachers, pastors, public servants, engineers, medical professionals, small business owners, mothers, fathers, and so much more. Every day, they balance the competing demands of civilian life and military service, including leaving their communities at a moment’s notice when our country calls.
Many patriotic employers have stepped up to do all that they can to support the mission of their Guard and Reserve employees. They offer generous leave policies while service members are deployed or undergoing military training. They ensure that spouses and families maintain access to health care and benefits while their loved ones are away. And they demonstrate steadfast support for the service members who sacrifice so much for all of us. That matters—it ensures that our National Guard and Reserve members can continue to strengthen our national security while maintaining meaningful roles at home.
The Biden family is a National Guard family, and we remain inspired by all Americans who choose to serve something bigger than themselves, just as our son Major Beau Biden did in the Delaware Army National Guard. We owe our troops, including our Guard and Reserve members, a debt of gratitude that we can never fully repay. During National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week, let us also show our appreciation to employers for all that they do to support the brave Americans who stand at the ready to dare all, risk all, and give all for our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 20 through August 26, 2023, as National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by honoring our National Guard and Reserve service members, who sacrifice so much to keep our country and communities safe and secure, and to commend the employers who empower these service members to thrive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The overdose epidemic is a national crisis, and for millions of Americans, it is personal. Too many families have lost their children, siblings, parents, and friends to substance misuse and overdose. Every loss is a painful reminder that we must take bold action to end our Nation’s overdose epidemic. During Overdose Awareness Week, we reaffirm our commitment to beating this public health and public safety epidemic—in memory of all those we have lost and to protect all the lives we can still save.
People with substance use disorder face too many barriers to treatment. And while synthetic opioids, like illicitly produced fentanyl, are driving the majority of overdose deaths today and perpetuating addiction, we know that prevention and recovery are possible if people get the support and treatment they need. That’s why my Administration established a National Drug Control Strategy that goes after two major drivers of the overdose epidemic: untreated addiction and drug trafficking.
My Administration has worked hard to ensure that substance use disorder is treated like any other disease, funding the expansion of prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and recovery support services. As a part of my Unity Agenda, we passed a law making it easier for doctors to prescribe effective treatments, leading to an unprecedented and historic expansion that finally put help within reach for millions of Americans.
Through the American Rescue Plan, we delivered more than $5 billion to strengthen and expand State and community mental health and substance use disorder services. We also addressed the mental health of frontline workers, like nurses, who are dealing with this crisis every day, by directing $103 million specifically to meet their needs. And my Bipartisan Safer Communities Act went even further—providing billions of dollars to improve mental health services for young people, including hiring and training more school mental health counselors so young people get the care they need.
We continue to fight the stigmatization that surrounds substance use disorder so people feel comfortable reaching out for help when they need it. The Food and Drug Administration approved two Naloxone products—an opioid overdose reversal medication—for over-the-counter use. Now, every American will be able to access this life-saving medication. And our new National Response Plan to address the deadly combination of fentanyl mixed with xylazine coordinates efforts across all of government to confront this dangerous emerging threat.
My Administration is also disrupting the flow of illicit drugs by making it costlier to bring killer drugs into America; going after drug traffickers’ profits; and targeting their financial networks, supply chains, and delivery routes, including on the internet. We have strengthened coordination and information sharing among our intelligence and domestic law enforcement agencies to dismantle drug traffickers and their networks. So far, my Administration has seized more than 1.6 million pounds of drugs before they crossed the border and entered into our communities, including over 42,500 pounds of illicitly manufactured fentanyl. And we are not done. Drug overdose deaths leveled off in 2022 after sharp increases from 2019 to 2021. Now, we must double down on this work, which is why my proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2024 requests a historic $46.1 billion for national drug control programs. The Congress must act to invest in solutions that will prevent these drugs from ever hitting our streets and getting into the hands of our loved ones, including by passing all of the measures called for in my Administration’s 2021 recommendations to the Congress on reducing illicit fentanyl-related substances, which will strengthen public health and public safety.
Today, I grieve with all those who have lost someone to an overdose. May we find hope in the more than 20 million brave Americans recovering from substance use disorder, who show us what is possible when people have the care, treatment, and support they need. My Administration will continue to ensure that our Nation has the resources we need to address this crisis, prevent illicit drugs from reaching our communities, and finally defeat the overdose epidemic in our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 27 through September 2, 2023, as Overdose Awareness Week. I call upon citizens, government agencies, civil society organizations, health care providers, and research institutions to raise awareness of substance use disorder so that our Nation can combat stigmatization, promote treatment, celebrate recovery, and strengthen our collective efforts to prevent overdose deaths. August 31st also marks Overdose Awareness Day, on which we honor and remember those who have lost their lives to the drug overdose epidemic.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
America is the only Nation in the world based on an idea—the idea that all people are created equal and deserve to be treated equally
The 19th Amendment was certified 103 years ago, but more remained to be done—especially for women of color, many of whom fought for the right to vote for another four decades until the Voting Rights Act passed in 1965. Today, women still face discrimination and threats to their health and safety, as well as gaps in pay, access to health care, and caregiving responsibilities. These gaps are often even greater for women and girls of color. Last year, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating a woman’s constitutional right to make fundamental decisions about her own body and putting women’s health and lives at risk. And we are facing new efforts to suppress the fundamental right to vote and undermine our democracy.
My Administration is committed to realizing the promise of the suffragists, who knew that equality begins at the ballot box and requires women to have a seat at the table. That is why we will keep fighting to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and strengthen the Voting Rights Act and the Freedom to Vote Act to ensure fair Congressional maps give all Americans an equal chance to be heard. It is also why I have delivered on my promise to build an Administration that looks like America—with courageous leaders like Vice President Kamala Harris and the record number of women who serve in our Nation’s first gender-equal Cabinet leading the way. I have also appointed more Black women to Federal appellate courts—including the first Black woman on the Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson—than all prior Presidents combined. And I established the White House Gender Policy Council to advance gender equity and equality across all domestic and foreign policy.
Equality also means ensuring women’s economic security—and I am pleased that a majority of the record 13 million jobs we have added to our economy since I took office are held by women. We are working to ensure women have access to opportunities in sectors like manufacturing and construction, where women have long been underrepresented. I also signed an Executive Order to eliminate discriminatory pay practices and advance pay equity. I have fought for safe and healthy workplaces, including by signing into law long-overdue protections for pregnant, postpartum, and nursing workers. I signed an Executive Order with the most comprehensive set of actions ever to support caregivers and expand child- and long-term care, and we have made other historic investments in affordable child care while requiring firms that receive significant Federal dollars to ensure that high-quality child care is available so parents can actually take the new jobs that we are creating.
We have to ensure women’s physical safety as well. As a United States Senator, I wrote the Violence Against Women Act to not only change the laws but also the culture that had allowed the scourge of domestic violence, sexual assault, and other forms of gender-based violence to persist in America. As Vice President and now as President, I have worked to reauthorize and strengthen that law, improving law enforce
This year, we also mark the 100th anniversary of the introduction of the Equal Rights Amendment. It is long past time to definitively enshrine the principle of gender equality in the Constitution, and I will continue to fight for the Equal Rights Amendment as I have throughout my career. Together we can and must build a future where our daughters have all the same rights and opportunities as our sons, where all women and girls have a chance to realize their God-given potential, and where we can finally realize the full promise of America for all Americans. May we be a Nation worthy of the abilities and ambitions of our women and girls.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim August 26, 2023, as Women’s Equality Day. I call upon the people of the United States to celebrate and continue to build on our country’s progress toward gender equality and to defend and strengthen the right to vote.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the extraordinary courage, strength, and optimism of the tens of thousands of families now fighting the leading cause of death by disease for children: cancer. We remember the bright lives cut short and recommit to ending cancer as we know it, for all those we have lost and all those we can save.
Cancer is brutal no matter whom it strikes, but it is particularly cruel when it affects the youngest among us. When they should be learning in school and playing outside, children with cancer are oftentimes fighting for their lives in hospitals instead. A cancer diagnosis takes a tremendous toll on their family, friends, and community. Caregivers are often left struggling to deal with a flood of medical information, to make sense of treatment options, and to navigate mounting medical bills all while trying to stay hopeful and steal moments of joy with their loved ones.
Over the past 50 years, cancer researchers have made major advances treating some types of pediatric cancer—but we have much more to do. Last year, the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot, setting an ambitious new goal to cut America’s overall cancer death rate by at least half over the next 25 years, turn more cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases, and improve support for patients and families. As a first step, I worked with the Congress to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding to develop breakthroughs in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer and other deadly diseases and pioneering partnerships to get those breakthroughs out to patients and clinics across the Nation. We’re also making lifesaving health care more affordable for millions of American families, expanding health care coverage for families through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and helping millions of families save $800 per year on health insurance premiums.
At the same time, the National Cancer Institute has developed a National Cancer Plan to speed up the development of effective cancer treatments, including those for children. The Institute’s Childhood Cancer Data Initiative is also providing free molecular testing of tumors, further helping my Administration implement the RACE for Children Act, to quickly identify and approve precision pediatric cancer drugs. Earlier this year, I was also proud to sign the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act, boosting funding for childhood cancer research, including research into late effects of childhood cancer treatment and new ways to care for survivors. And as a part of the Cancer Moonshot, the National Cancer Institute launched the Childhood Cancer–Data Integration for Research, Education, Care, and Clinical Trials, a first-of-its-kind, public-private partnership that will help children, adolescents, and young adults with cancer and their families reach out for support, connect to excellent care, and obtain opportunities to participate in research.
During National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the absolute courage of the tens of thousands of children who fight cancer every day and all of the loved ones who support them. And we recognize the medical professionals, researchers, companies, philanthropies, and academic institutions who search tirelessly for early detection methods, better and safer treatments and even cures. Together, we will create a cancer-free future for our kids.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness of what Americans can do to support the fight against childhood cancer. I encourage anyone experiencing uncertainty around risk factors or treatment options, or looking for other opportunities for support to connect with a trained specialist at 1–800–4–CANCER or visit www.cancer.gov.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
This year, nearly 20,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer—the deadliest of all female reproductive system cancers. Like so many American families, the pain of cancer and the devastation left in its wake are personal for me and my family. During National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, we stand in solidarity with the brave women fighting this terrible disease. We honor the mothers, sisters, daughters, wives, and friends we have tragically lost. And we renew our commitment to ending cancer as we know it.
Despite remarkable scientific breakthroughs, no reliable method for asymptomatic screening and detection exists, often delaying discovery until the cancer has progressed to far deadlier, advanced stages. Even for patients who receive a timely diagnosis, the flood of medical information can be overwhelming, and the cost of life-saving care can be financially crippling. Thousands of Americans pay more than $10,000 per year for ovarian cancer drugs.
Our Nation must do more to change that. Last year, the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot, setting ambitious goals to cut the overall cancer death rate by at least half in the next 25 years, turning more cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases and working to improve the experience for patients and their families. As a first step, I worked with the Congress to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding to drive scientific breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer and other deadly diseases and pioneering partnerships to get those breakthroughs out to clinics and patients.
My Administration is also working to get patients and their families the breathing room they deserve—since taking office, we have lowered prescription drug costs and made lifesaving health care more affordable for millions of American families. We have strengthened Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, expanding health care coverage to millions of Americans and helping 13 million people save $800 per year on health insurance premiums. The Inflation Reduction Act will also cap out-of-pocket drug costs for people on Medicare at $2,000 per year, even for expensive cancer drugs.
We also know that early detection greatly improves chances of survival for ovarian cancer. All women should discuss risk factors with their doctors and remain vigilant against symptoms. Experts recommend that patients with a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer—or whose ancestry is associated with harmful gene variants—have a discussion of risk factors with their doctors to see if genetic counseling and testing may be appropriate.
Every day, people across the country share their stories of cancer with me—stories of pain and perseverance, stories of loss and love, and stories of heartache and hope. In observance of National Ovarian Cancer Month, let us pay tribute to all the lives we can save and to all the lives we have lost. Let us support the families and medical community working tirelessly to provide them with treatment and care. And let us recommit to ending cancer as we know it, once and for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about ovarian cancer. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness of what Americans can do to detect and treat ovarian cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
In America, we pride ourselves on emerging from every crisis stronger than when we entered it. That is because our people are resilient—and when we invest in preparing them for disasters seen and unforeseen, we can meet every challenge together. This National Preparedness Month, we recommit to doing just that: Building a stronger and more resilient Nation and equipping Americans with the resources they need to remain safe and secure.
This year alone, historic flooding, wildfires, smoke, and extreme heat has claimed the lives of many Americans and, more broadly, threatened the lives and livelihoods of people across our Nation. Other Americans have had to face personal emergencies at a moment’s notice—whether it is supply chains breaking down and preventing them from accessing the products they need, prolonged power outages because of extreme weather events, or a health emergency that puts a loved one in the hospital. And, climate change is making many of these challenges more ferocious, frequent, and costly.
To meet these challenges of today—and prepare for the crises of tomorrow—my Administration is taking historic action to invest in the security and well-being of America and Americans. That is what my Invest in America agenda is all about. Between the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act alone, we have secured more than $50 billion so far in climate resilience so that communities can better withstand the impacts of climate change and
When disaster does strike, every American should have peace of mind knowing that they can access health care for themselves and their family. That is why we expanded Affordable Care Act health care coverage for millions of Americans through the Inflation Reduction Act, saving millions of working families an average of $800 a year on their health care premiums.
This National Preparedness Month, may we honor all of our first responders, who run toward disaster at a moment’s notice. May we also recognize that our Nation is best prepared to face disaster when our national security, climate security, and economic security are strong and when every American has the resources and support they need. To learn more about readiness, visit www.Ready.gov or www.Listo.gov for Spanish speakers. With the help of our partners in every sector and across local, State, Tribal, and territorial governments, may we all meet this moment and protect our families, communities, and country for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Preparedness Month. I encourage all Americans to recognize the importance of preparedness and work together to enhance our resilience and readiness.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
This year alone, more than 280,000 Americans will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. During National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the lives ended too soon and all those we can still save by redoubling our efforts to end cancer as we know it.
When someone is diagnosed with prostate cancer, every second counts. But patients are too often left advocating for basic care while drowning in a flood of medical information. Even when treatment is available, some struggle to afford it or insurance may not cover it. And stark inequities exist: Black men are more than twice as likely to die from prostate cancer in this country than other men.
Our Nation must do more to change that. Last year, the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot, setting an ambitious new goal to cut America’s cancer death rate by at least half over the next 25 years, turning more cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases and improving support for patients and families. I worked with the Congress to establish the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, securing $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding to develop breakthroughs in preventing, diagnosing, and treating cancer and other deadly diseases and pioneering partnerships to get those breakthroughs out to clinics and patients. We are making lifesaving cancer care more affordable for millions of Americans, expanding coverage through Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, and helping many who had received relief during the pandemic to keep saving $800 a year on insurance premiums. The Inflation Reduction Act will soon cap total out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 a year—including for expensive cancer medicines—which could save some prostate cancer patients up to $6,000 a year.
We are also working to make sure prevention, detection, and treatment procedures are available to patients of all communities and backgrounds. The National Institutes of Health is continuing expansive research into environmental and genetic factors to better understand why prostate cancer disproportionately affects Black men. In response to our Cancer Moonshot, the Department of Veterans Affairs expanded its National Precision Oncology Program to better tailor treatments to individual veterans. And we know that screening matters: Experts recommend that men with a higher risk of cancer—based on race or ethnicity, family history, or other factors—discuss it with their doctors.
Everyone’s journey with cancer is different, but the First Lady and I know how hard it can be on the whole family. To all those caring for loved ones with prostate cancer and all those facing it themselves, we stand with you. My Administration is working around the clock on breakthroughs that can bring hope and more choices to the fight against this disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and cure prostate cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Recovery Month, we celebrate the more than 20 million Americans who have had the courage to seek help for substance use disorder, showing millions of others that recovery is possible. We honor their resilience and recommit to making sure that every American has access to the services and support they need to rebuild lives of purpose and hope.
Substance use disorder affects families in every corner of our country. Drug overdoses last year took more than 100,000 American lives. Addressing this crisis is a core pillar of my Unity Agenda—one of the big issues we can tackle together as a Nation.
That work starts by fulfilling the promise of true parity for mental health and substance use disorder treatment for all Americans. Mental health and substance use disorder care is health care. It is essential to people’s well-being—to their ability to lead full and productive lives, to find joy and meaning, to take care of themselves and their loved ones, and to give back to their communities and our Nation. It is about dignity. Health insurers should cover it the same way they would cover treatment for a broken bone or any other kind of health condition. And since I took office, that is what we have been fighting to do.
The American Rescue Plan delivered more than $5 billion to expand mental health and substance use disorder services. I have worked with a group of bipartisan members of the Congress to make it easier for doctors to prescribe effective treatments for opioid use disorder, and the Food and Drug Administration has approved two Naloxone products for over-the-counter use, expanding access to life-saving opioid-reversal medications that can prevent fatal overdoses. We have expanded the Nation’s system of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics, opening 140 new centers to provide frontline care, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay. We also launched a nationwide Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (9–8–8), which connects callers to trained counselors around the clock. The Department of Labor created a Recovery-Ready Workplace Resource Hub to help employers support and hire people in recovery.
We have come a long way toward improving access to care and building our Nation’s recovery support services infrastructure, but there is much more to do. Last month, my Administration proposed a new rule that would require health insurers to identify any gaps in the mental health and substance use disorder care they provide and to ensure that mental and physical health services are equally accessible. We are also working with States to ensure that millions of Medicaid patients enrolled in private Medicaid health plans have coverage for mental health and substance use disorder services. In all, my Fiscal Year 2024 Budget requests a historic $46 billion for prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance use disorder, as well as reducing the supply of deadly drugs.
Millions of Americans know and love someone who is in recovery. We want everyone to know that they are never alone. As a Nation working together, we can make recovery real for more Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Recovery Month. I call upon all citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other groups to take action to promote recovery and improve the health of our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, we recognize the perseverance and strength of the community of people living with this disease and recommit to developing more effective treatments.
Approximately 100,000 Americans have Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)—a group of inherited red blood cell disorders that can cause acute, chronic pain and serious health complications, including infections, strokes, organ damage, vision problems, and serious fatigue. Living with SCD often means putting the goals and plans of everyday life on hold to accommodate the demands of the disease, enduring frequent unplanned hospital stays and struggling to pay for costly treatments not covered by insurance.
There is no widely available cure for SCD. While bone marrow and stem cell transplants can work for some people with SCD, low donor availability and treatment-related complications put those options out of reach for many living with the disease. Although SCD affects people of all backgrounds, it disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic Americans. Combined with the documented disparities in treatment and care, people living with SCD often lack access to specialized care, treatment, and information about the disease, and they face barriers to receiving pain management and treatment support.
That is why my Administration is working tirelessly to close these health disparities and help deliver the care SCD patients and their families deserve. We are working with State, territorial, and local governments, nonprofits, and private sector partners to make that happen. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Sickle Cell Data Collection program is gathering more comprehensive information on the experiences of SCD patients, which will inform new treatments and health care services. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is
This month, we acknowledge all those living with SCD and the many health and medical professionals working to find new treatments and a cure for this disease. May we honor the progress we have made together and strengthen our resolve in finding a cure for SCD.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to learn more about Sickle Cell Disease and the progress we are making to reduce the burden of this disease on our fellow Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
America’s natural wonders are marvels of the world. People travel across seas and continents to behold the spirit of this great land embodied by our majestic mountains, breathtaking deserts, emerald valleys, and mighty rivers. During National Wilderness Month, we celebrate the power and promise of our country’s extraordinary natural gifts and renew our commitment to protecting them for generations to come.
When we conserve our country’s landscapes and wilderness, we do more than preserve their beauty for our own enjoyment. We safeguard the future of people who depend on and sustain the land as a way of life—Indigenous peoples, farmers and ranchers, recreation businesses, and rural communities. We enshrine landmarks that identify the places where the history of our Nation was made. We protect sacred spaces that have been stewarded by Tribal Nations since time immemorial.
A respect for nature’s ability to support and enrich our lives has led my Administration to develop the most ambitious land and water conservation agenda in American history. During my first week in office, I issued an Executive Order establishing the country’s first-ever National Conservation Goal to conserve at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. It is the cornerstone of my “America the Beautiful”; campaign to support locally led and voluntary conservation and restoration efforts across the country. I also signed an Executive Order to protect America’s forests, harness the power of nature in the fight against climate change, and initiate the first National Nature Assessment to evaluate the state of our lands, waters, and wildlife. And with funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and alongside the Department of Agriculture, I have created a nearly $1 billion Community Wildfire Defense grant so that communities can take steps to protect themselves from the devastation of wildfires.
With the help of critical partners in every sector, we continue to make strong progress toward these conservation and climate goals. Together, my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act represent the largest investment in climate and conservation ever—accelerating the clean energy economy here at home, protecting communities from climate impacts, and creating good-paying jobs that boost our economy. The new National Monuments I have designated will protect the soaring peaks of Camp Hale in Colorado, the irreplaceable Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, the magnificent Castner Range in Texas, and the sacred sites and lands that surround the Grand Canyon. We have conserved the ancient and vast conifers of the Tongass National Forest; safeguarded the incomparable Bristol Bay watershed in Alaska; and restored protections for Bears Ears, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monuments.
My Administration has protected the Boundary Waters in Minnesota and Chaco Canyon in New Mexico, and we are accelerating efforts to restore the Great Lakes, the Chesapeake Bay, the Everglades, and the Columbia River Basin. At my direction, the Secretary of Commerce has begun exploring the designation of approximately 770,000 square miles in the Pacific Ocean, an area almost three times the size of Texas, as a new national marine sanctuary to protect the integrity of our oceans. The Department of the Interior has also begun the process of preserving more than 13 million acres of lands of significant natural and cultural value in the Western Arctic. And I declared the entire United States Arctic Ocean off-limits to new oil and gas development. These landscapes and sacred spaces are precious. If they are lost, they can never be replaced.
Though these are great accomplishments, I realize we still have much more work to do to protect our wilderness. That is why we are continuing to take ambitious steps to accelerate conservation. We are coordinating across Federal agencies and encouraging collaboration with non-Federal partners to better conserve ecological connectivity and wildlife corridors. We are also partnering with Tribal Nations, working together as co-stewards of the lands that are most precious to them.
To harness the tremendous power of the ocean to help in our fight against the climate crisis, we published the first-ever United States
This National Wilderness Month, we renew our commitment to protecting our wilderness areas and ensuring that all their splendor is passed down from generation to generation of Americans, helping to bridge our past and our future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 2023 as National Wilderness Month. I encourage all Americans to experience our Nation’s outdoor heritage, to recreate responsibly and leave no trace, to celebrate the value of preserving an enduring wilderness, and to strengthen our commitment to protecting these vital lands and waters now and for future generations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of August, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
I have often said that the middle class built this country and that unions built the middle class. On Labor Day, we honor that essential truth and the dedication and dignity of American workers, who power our Nation’s prosperity.
They have built the railways, highways, and waterways that connect us from coast to coast, have forged the look and feel of American cities, and have protected our communities and families as first responders. Organized workers have fundamentally transformed how we live and work in this country—from securing the 8-hour work day and overtime pay to mandating standard safety practices in workplaces and earning better health care, pensions, and other benefits for all workers.
American workers are the best in the world, but over the past few decades, too many leaders embraced an economic theory that failed them and our unions. It is called trickle-down economics. It is the belief that we should cut taxes for the wealthy and big corporations and wait for the benefits to trickle down to workers and American families. It is a belief that we should shrink public investment in infrastructure and public education. It is a tax policy that encourages corporations to move operations and jobs overseas.
Trickle-down policies slashed investments in people and communities and allowed big corporations to amass more power while limiting the ability of workers to join unions. It did not matter where companies made things, as long as it helped their bottom line—even if it meant losing the very workers who had helped them succeed. Companies cut staff, shipped good jobs overseas, prioritized cheap labor, and silenced workers’ voices. As a result, factories and businesses across the country shut down, entire communities were hollowed out, and for many working people, a path to better their circumstances would never be within reach. People working as hard as ever could not get ahead because it was harder to buy a home, pay for a college education, start a business, and retire with dignity. The moment we embraced trickle-down economics, we walked away from who we are and from the way our Nation was built.
I knew our Nation could not continue with those same failed policies, so I came into office determined to build an economy that grows from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down. And it is working. We have added over 13 million jobs, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs. We added more jobs in my first two years than any President in a single 4-year term because we are investing in America and Americans again.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I signed is a once-in-a-generation investment that puts Americans to work rebuilding our Nation’s infrastructure using American-made materials. We have announced nearly 37,000 new projects since we passed the bill. For me, it was a top priority that the overwhelming majority of these investments be covered by Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirements to make sure the hundreds of thousands of jobs we create are good-paying jobs.
We passed the CHIPS and Science Act to bring semiconductor manufacturing back to American shores and ensure that the United States leads the world in innovation. It has attracted over $166 billion in investment and ignited a semiconductor manufacturing boom. Our Inflation Reduction Act helps build the clean energy industries of the future here at home while incentivizing companies to adopt strong labor standards. Our American Rescue Plan includes funding to protect over two million union workers, retirees, and their families from benefit cuts to the pensions they have earned. All of these investments mean good-paying jobs that American workers can raise their families on, many of which do not require a 4-year college degree.
By investing more in Registered Apprenticeships and in career and technical education programs than any previous administration, we are ensuring that every American—from every region and background—can access the training and education needed to participate in our Nation’s economic prosperity. My Administration is working to crack down on non-compete agreements that keep 30 million Americans from taking new jobs with higher wages in their field. We are taking action to protect workers’ health and safety from hazards they may be exposed to on the job, such as silica dust and other toxic materials. And my Administration is empowering American workers and giving working families some breathing room by bringing the cost of prescription drugs and health care down for millions of Americans.
I promised to be the most pro-union President in history, and I firmly believe that every worker in America should have the free and fair
On Labor Day, we stand in solidarity with all the workers who lift our Nation to new heights and all the labor unions who give all workers power and voice. May we continue working to restore the American Dream for every person willing to work hard in our Nation by embracing what has always been the foundation of our country’s success: investing in America and American workers.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 4, 2023, as Labor Day. I call upon all public officials and people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that honor the energy and innovation of working Americans.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Twenty-two years ago—on September 11, 2001—2,977 precious lives were stolen from us in attacks of deliberate evil on our Nation. On the National Days of Prayer and Remembrance, we come together to renew our sacred vow: Never forget. Never forget the parents, children, spouses, friends, and loved ones we lost that day. Never forget the heroes who stepped up to rescue their fellow Americans and help our communities rebuild in the hours—and years—thereafter. And never forget our obligation to honor their memories and service by building a safer and more secure future for all.
To all the families of the victims who have had to endure the absence of a loved one over the last two decades, I know that 22 years is both a lifetime and no time at all. The very memories that help us heal can also open up the hurt and take us back to the moment the grief was raw—to the moment when a loved one and their dreams were stolen from us in an instant. Today, when that grief feels especially great, the First Lady and I hold you close to our hearts.
We also join all those who are mourning the loss of patriots who stepped up when their country needed them most. My mom believed the greatest virtue of all was courage and that someday the bravery that
These brave heroes remind us that—through all that has changed over these last two decades—the enduring resolve of the American people has never wavered. What was destroyed in the attacks, we have repaired. What was threatened, we have fortified. We have never ceased in our mission to defend ourselves against those who seek to do us harm and to deliver justice to those responsible for attacks against our people. And during our darkest hour, we regained our light by finding something all too rare—unity.
Today, the charge left for all of us is to find renewal and resolve in remembrance. For it is not enough to only reflect on the souls we lost on September 11th; we must also continue to build a Nation worthy of their highest aspirations—one that remembers, for all our flaws and disagreements, there is nothing we cannot accomplish when we stand together and defend with all our hearts that which makes us unique in the world: our democracy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 8, 2023, through September 10, 2023, as National Days of Prayer and Remembrance. I ask that the people of the United States honor the victims of September 11, 2001, and their loved ones with prayer, contemplation, memorial services and visits, bells, candlelight vigils, and other activities. I invite people around the world to join. I call on the citizens of our Nation to give thanks for our many freedoms and blessings, and I invite all people of faith to join me in asking for God’s continued guidance, mercy, and protection.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Education beyond high school should be a ticket to the middle class—and across our Nation, more than 500 Hispanic-Serving Institutions have helped to make that promise real, opening the doors of opportunity a bit wider for generations of Hispanic college students. During National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week, we celebrate their important work.
Today’s students are part of the most talented, resilient, and diverse generation in our history. But while creativity and work ethic are abundant, not everyone has an equal shot yet. That is why Hispanic-Serving Institutions are so essential. Two-thirds of all Hispanic college students in America attend one; they provide a quality education and empower underserved students—including Dreamers and first-generation college students—to earn degrees and build better lives for their families. And with the Supreme Court’s recent decision to effectively end affirmative action, their work is as critical as ever.
My Administration is committed to strengthening these vital institutions and supporting their students through graduation and beyond. The American Rescue Plan invested $11 billion in Hispanic-Serving Institutions—the largest investment in Hispanic college students in our Nation’s history. And through our White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics, we are working together to support Hispanic and Latino college students and invest in the future of Hispanic and Latino communities.
We have also increased Pell Grants for low-income families by the largest amount in over a decade, easing the overwhelming cost of college for about half of all Hispanic undergraduates. We fixed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so borrowers who become teachers, police officers, social workers, military service members and other public servants get the debt relief they are entitled to under the law. We are reducing the amount that student loan borrowers have to repay on their undergraduate loans to 5 percent of their discretionary income each month, down from 10 percent—the most generous repayment program ever. That is going to save the typical borrower around $1,000 a year. And last year, I introduced the most ambitious student debt relief plan ever, which was on the verge of helping more than 40 million Americans. When the Supreme Court wrongly struck down that plan, we moved immediately to open an alternative path to relief that could further reduce costs for many Hispanic borrowers. No administration has fought harder for student debt relief than mine—and we are not done yet.
This week, I am thinking about Julieta García, the first Hispanic woman in history to serve as president of an American college. Last year, I had the honor of giving her the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her work building a culture of excellence, affirmation, and curiosity for generations of students. Reflecting on her career, she once said, “My job was always to thrust open the doors of opportunity.”; That is what Hispanic-Serving Institutions do—and that is what America is all about: widening the aperture of opportunity for everyone.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 10 through September 16, 2023, as National Hispanic-Serving Institutions Week. I call on public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the many ways these institutions and their graduates contribute to our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
On National Grandparents Day, we give thanks to grandparents, who are the heart and soul of so many families.
Offering wisdom, sharing their own stories of courage and resilience, or leading us forward by the power of their example, grandparents define who we are and shape who we become. The First Lady and I were blessed with loving grandparents, and our grandchildren are the love of our lives and the life of our love.
For many families, grandparents are the glue holding everyone together. They drive their grandchildren to school and babysit when parents are busy. Sometimes, they become primary caregivers, giving children a stable home and loving role model. Grandparents give advice to young parents, pass on timeless family stories to younger generations, and open their hearts and homes for the people they love. I will never forget when my own grandpop took my family in when my father lost his job. My grandpop was a true example of what makes grandparents so special.
My Administration is working to respect the dignity of our grandparents and seniors. Through our Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare now has the authority to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices. Seniors on Medicare who used to pay as much as $400 a month for insulin are now paying $35 a month. In 2025, we are capping out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs at the pharmacy at $2,000 annually for those on Medicare, making it easier to afford medication. My proposed budget will extend the Medicare trust fund for at least 25 years, preserving essential programs that Americans have counted on for generations. And as I have promised, I will continue fighting to protect Social Security and Medicare and will not agree to any cuts to either program.
On this occasion, my Administration reaffirms our commitment to looking after our Nation’s grandparents, especially those who care for children. Last year, the Department of Health and Human Services released the first National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers. This plan outlines nearly 350 actions the Federal Government can take to support the health, well-being, and financial security of family caregivers, including the 2.7 million grandparents who serve as caregivers for children each year. Additionally, I signed an Executive Order directing Federal agencies to increase support of family caregivers and provide more care options for people with disabilities and their families. The American Rescue Plan provided $145 million to deliver counseling, training, and short-term relief to grandparents and other care providers. And for grandparents looking to share their love, the
Whether your grandparents called this country home from the moment they were born or came from distant shores, they have worked hard to give their children and their grandchildren a more prosperous future. In our hearts, we carry the lessons our grandparents instilled in us. And in ways big and small, we strive to build a future worthy of their highest hopes. On National Grandparents Day, we give thanks to our grandparents for their unconditional love and unmatched inspiration.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 10, 2023, as National Grandparents Day. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the important role that grandparents play in the lives of their families and the children and grandchildren they love.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On World Suicide Prevention Day, we hold all those affected by suicide close in our hearts—the Americans we have lost to this public health problem, the loved ones who mourn their heart-wrenching losses, and all the families and professionals working to support those in crisis. Though we recognize there is no single cause or single solution to suicide, we know that access to support and treatment can save lives. My Administration remains committed to expanding suicide prevention programs to reach every community in our Nation and ensuring all Americans can receive the care and support they deserve.
My Administration is working to tackle the mental health crisis, including by addressing the many risk factors associated with suicide—it is a core pillar of my Unity Agenda and one of the big challenges we as a society can overcome together. We have laid out a strategy to transform how mental health is understood, accessed, treated, and integrated in and out of health care settings. Our goals are to strengthen the mental health system’s capacity, connect more Americans to care, and create healthy environments that strengthen mental health.
In 2021, more than 48,000 Americans were lost to suicide, over 12.3 million adults seriously considered suicide, and 1.7 million people attempted suicide. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth and young adults between the ages of 10 and 24 years old. And the suicide rate for veterans was more than 50 percent greater than for
In 2021, less than half of all adults with mental illness received care for it. For children, the numbers are even worse. Nearly 70 percent of our kids who seek care for mental health or substance use cannot get it. Parents, teachers, school nurses, and counselors are telling us there is a serious youth mental health crisis happening right now in this country. But insurers still make it far too difficult to get mental health care. With too few mental health providers in their plan’s network, patients with private insurance are often forced to seek out-of-network care at significantly higher costs, if they can find it.
Recently, my Administration proposed new steps to meaningfully expand access to mental health care in America, including requiring health insurance plans to identify gaps in the mental health care that they provide and to fix them. Under this plan, insurers would have to measure how often they require prior authorization for mental health care treatment and how often they deny those requests.
I have heard the despair from families everywhere, watching their spouse’s, child’s, or loved one’s light dim, knowing they need help but lacking the means to get it. This sense of helplessness strips families of their confidence and dignity. Health insurers should cover mental health crises the same way they would cover treatment for a broken bone or any other physical health condition. Since I took office, my Administration has been fighting to make that a reality.
Our American Rescue Plan delivered nearly $5 billion to expand Federal and State mental health and substance use services. Last year, when we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly three decades, we added measures to further expand the number of school psychologists and counselors available to our kids, make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health services, and increase the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care.
We have also launched 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which connects those experiencing a mental health crisis to a trained crisis counselor right away. And we established the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline to help mothers navigate mental health issues that can be reached by dialing 1–833–TLC–MAMA (1–833–852–6262). And to those experiencing emotional distress or thoughts of suicide: Please know that you are loved and that there is hope. I encourage you to call or text 988 for free, confidential support.
We are also investing in mental health care and suicide prevention efforts for service members and veterans to better honor our sacred obligation to the troops we send into harm’s way by caring for them and their families when they return. We are hiring more mental health professionals and investing in programs that recruit veterans to help others get the support they need. We are working to expand rental assistance and job placement programs for our veterans to help reduce financial strain. And to help our first responders heal from any trauma they faced on the job, I have also signed laws that extend counseling, benefits, and other mental health resources.
As the world joins together to honor the memories of those we lost to suicide and their loved ones, may we recommit to ensuring that help and support are accessible and affordable to every American.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 10, 2023, as World Suicide Prevention Day. I call upon all Americans, communities, organizations, and levels of government to join me in creating hope through action and committing to preventing suicide across America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Today we remember all the heroes who were forged in the hours, days, and years that followed that terrible morning of September 11, 2001—ordinary Americans who, amidst the terror, smoke, and flames, demonstrated extraordinary courage and selflessness. Together, their bravery helped prove to our Nation and the world that what those terrorists most hoped to wound could never be broken: the character of our Nation.
In the crucible that was September 11th, we saw just how deep that character goes. We saw it in the civilians, service members, and first responders who leapt into action that day, running into the searing flames and crumbling buildings—risking and losing their own lives to save others. We saw it in the incredible courage and resolve of the passengers on board Flight 93, who refused to let their plane be used as a weapon against more innocent Americans. We saw it in the police officers and firefighters who returned to the twisted steel and broken concrete slabs of Ground Zero and the Pentagon for months—breathing in toxins and ash that would damage their own health but nonetheless refusing to stop searching through the destruction. And we saw it in the millions of Americans across our country who responded to the September 11th attacks by signing up to defend our Constitution and join the greatest fighting force in the history of the world.
In the years since September 11th, hundreds of thousands of American troops have served—and sacrificed—around the world to deny terrorists safe haven and protect the American people. The First Lady and I hold in our hearts all those whose loved ones gave their last full measure of devotion in this fight. We owe them—and all our veterans and Gold Star Families as well as their survivors, caregivers, and loved
In honor of all the lives we lost 22 years ago—and in honor of all the heroes who have given their whole souls to the cause of this Nation every moment since—may today not only be observed with solemn remembrance but also with renewal and resolve. And I invite all Americans to observe this day with service; you can find opportunities to volunteer in your community by visiting americorps.gov/911-day. Together, may we continue to demonstrate that the rights and freedoms that those terrorists sought to destroy on September 11, 2001, remain unwavering—strengthened by generations of Americans who have dared all and risked all to defend, protect, and preserve our democracy.
By a joint resolution approved December 18, 2001 (Public Law 107–89), the Congress has designated September 11 of each year as “Patriot Day,”; and by Public Law 111–13, approved April 21, 2009, the Congress has requested the observance of September 11 as an annually recognized “National Day of Service and Remembrance.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 11, 2023, as Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance. I call upon all departments, agencies, and instrumentalities of the United States to display the flag of the United States at half-staff on Patriot Day and National Day of Service and Remembrance in honor of the individuals who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. I invite the Governors of the United States and its Territories and interested organizations and individuals to join in this observance. I call upon the people of the United States to participate in community service in honor of those our Nation lost, to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities, including remembrance services, and to observe a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m. eastern daylight time to honor the innocent victims who perished as a result of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor the diverse history of generations of Latinos, whose aspirations and achievements have shaped the soul of our Nation.
I have often said that America can be defined in one word: possibilities. The Hispanic community has always embodied that ideal. It lives in the dreams of those who have only just arrived here and in the legacy of families who have been here for centuries. Latinos have helped chart America’s course since our start—as doctors and engineers; artists and entrepreneurs; and leaders in science, business, labor, government, and military and across grassroots movements. Their faith and drive have pushed our country to grow, prosper, and pursue its highest ideals.
My Administration is working to make the American Dream real for everyone, including by expanding opportunities for Latinos across the country. Since I took office, we have seen over 13 million new jobs created. Unemployment is near a 50-year low. We helped more than 2.5 million Latinos enroll in health insurance through the Affordable Care Act—that is an increase of more than 50 percent since 2020. We expanded the Child Tax Credit, which slashed child poverty by over 40 percent among Latinos to the lowest rate on record. I signed the most significant gun safety legislation in 30 years. We have invested in community colleges, Pell Grants, and Hispanic-Serving Institutions, helping more Latino students access higher education. And we have made Puerto Rico’s economic recovery and development a priority by providing funding for new infrastructure and clean energy projects and upgrading their transportation.
We are doing all this by investing in America—rebuilding our Nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and public transportation; replacing every lead pipe in the country; and expanding access to high-speed internet. Our historic Inflation Reduction Act is giving families more breathing room by lowering health insurance and prescription drug costs, including capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for people with Medicare. And it makes the biggest investment ever in combating climate change while bringing environmental justice to communities of color, including Latinos, that have been exposed to legacy pollution.
At the same time, on my first day in office, I sent the Congress a plan to finally fix our Nation’s broken immigration system—securing our border while building a fair, orderly, and humane process for migration that keeps families together and protects workers from exploitation. It also includes a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, temporary status holders, and farm workers.
Throughout our work, the leadership of my four Latino Cabinet members—Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, and Small Business Administrator Isabella Guzman—has made an immense difference. And tens of thousands of other Latinos serving our Nation continue to inspire us all—including history-makers like Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor; educators like Dr. Julieta García, to whom I awarded the Medal of Freedom; brave police officers like the fallen Wilbert Mora and Jason Rivera, who posthumously received the Medal of Valor; and the 28 Hispanic Federal judges that I nominated and have seen confirmed. And countless more are enriching our country in meaningful ways, including legendary artists like José Feliciano, Judith Baca, and Antonio Martorell—who each received the National Arts Medals—and Richard Blanco, who I awarded the National Humanities Medal.
During National Hispanic Heritage Month, we salute the vital contributions of these public servants and of the more than 62 million Latinos who help make our Nation stronger every day. Latino history is American history. It is a story of hard work, family, faith, pride, and possibility, and it is proof that there is nothing we cannot do when we do it together.
In recognition of the achievements of the Hispanic community, the Congress, by Public Law 100–402, as amended, has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation designating September 15 through October 15 as “National Hispanic Heritage Month.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15 through October 15, 2023, as National Hispanic Heritage Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs that celebrate Hispanic heritage and recognize the impact Hispanic peoples have had on our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Unbreaking and unbending in their devotion to duty, our service members have sacrificed everything to keep our people and our democracy safe. While more than 81,000 of these brave service members still remain missing and unaccounted for, they are not—and will never be—forgotten. On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we honor the devotion and courage of all those missing and unaccounted for, renew our commitments to their families, and promise to never cease in our efforts to bring them home.
Above the White House and the United States Capitol—and at military bases, memorials, cemeteries, and homes across America—we fly the POW/MIA flag, and we remember what it represents: the thousands of spouses, parents, sons, daughters, and loved ones who served and sacrificed for our freedom and future; loved ones who mourn with unanswered questions still in their hearts; and the debt of gratitude we owe them that we can never fully repay. We cannot and must not forget our obligation to our unreturned heroes—no matter how long it takes.
Earlier this year, I had the honor of announcing that after over seven decades of being unaccounted for, United States Army Corporal Luther H. Story—a Medal of Honor recipient who gave his life fighting in the
On this day, may we recommit to our search efforts for all those missing and unaccounted for, as well as our support for their families. May we honor the remarkable bravery, sacrifice, and commitment to service of former prisoners of war. And may we continue to keep the flame of liberty burning bright and continue working toward a more perfect Union for which our service members sacrifice so much.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 15, 2023, as National POW/MIA Recognition Day. Let all who read this know that America remains grateful to our heroes held in the worst imaginable conditions as prisoners of war. Additionally, I encourage my fellow citizens across the Nation to reflect on today and let us not forget those heroes who never returned home from the battlefields around the world or their families who are still waiting for answers. I call upon Federal, State, and local government officials and private organizations to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
More than two centuries ago, our Founders set in motion the most extraordinary experiment of self-government the world has ever known with three simple words: “We, the People.”; These timeless words from our Constitution help capture the very idea of America—that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, we recommit to doing the work of upholding our Constitution, defending our democracy, and building an America that is more prosperous, more equal, and more just.
History requires us to acknowledge that we have never fully lived up to the promise of America. But we have never fully walked away from it either. Burning inside each generation of Americans is the flame of liberty lit at Independence Hall that has guided our Nation from the horrors of slavery to the justice of abolition, from the tragedy of a Civil
American democracy hinges on a fundamental freedom guaranteed by our Constitution: the right to vote. In our own time, as in generations past, this freedom has been under attack. The Supreme Court weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act, and States have enacted dozens of anti-voting laws in the years since. In one of the darkest moments of our Nation’s history, on January 6, 2021, we saw the violent and deadly insurrection at the Capitol perpetrated by election deniers. My Administration will not allow the right to vote and have that vote counted be taken from the American people. This year, I signed the Electoral Count Reform Act to preserve the will of the people and help protect the peaceful transfer of power. And I continue to urge the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore and expand voting protections and to prevent voter suppression.
But there is still more work to do. Protecting our civil rights is the duty of each and every American. In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate a woman’s right to choose—a constitutional right that it had recognized for nearly 50 years—my Administration took action to protect access to reproductive care, and we are continuing to call on the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade. As some seek to erase our history and ban books, we are making it clear that we cannot just choose to learn what we want to know and not what we should know. We must learn everything—the good, the bad, and the truth of who we are as a Nation. That is what great nations do. And we are a great Nation. The diversity that defines America is a strength, not a weakness, and we will continue to fight for the full inclusion of all Americans in the promise of America.
As we celebrate our Constitution, we also celebrate the rights and responsibilities of citizenship. We honor everyday Americans who always do extraordinary things. And we welcome our newest citizens and immigrants—many of whom left the only home they have ever known with hopes of pursuing the American Dream, bringing new energy and ideas that move our Nation forward. That is why, on day one of my Administration, I sent the Congress my plan to reform the immigration system. And until the Congress acts, we will keep using every tool we have to make immigration more orderly, safe, and humane.
America is founded on an idea—one stronger than any army, bigger than any ocean, and more powerful than any dictator or tyrant. It is the most powerful idea in the history of the world, and it beats in the hearts of the people in this country. It is the idea that America guarantees that everyone be treated with dignity. It gives hate no safe harbor. It instills in everyone the belief that, no matter where you start in life, there is nothing you cannot achieve. Whether your ancestors were native to these shores or they were brought here forcibly and enslaved—or whether they immigrated generations back, like my family from Ireland, or they just arrived in search of a better life for their families—the idea of America unites all of us. Today and every day, we celebrate this idea imagined in our Constitution and preserved through the noble labors of Americans past and present. And we reaffirm our commitment to ensuring this idea lives on for generations to come.
To honor the timeless principles enshrined in our Constitution, the Congress has, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106), designated September 17 as “Constitution Day and Citizenship Day”; and authorized the President to issue a proclamation calling on United States officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on that day. By joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108), the Congress further requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as “Constitution Week.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2023, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23 as Constitution Week. On this day and during this week, we celebrate our Constitution and the rights of citizenship that together we enjoy as the people of this proud Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
America’s farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers are the backbone of our Nation. They feed our families, power much of our economy, and help America lead the world. We owe them the dignity and certainty of knowing they are safe on the job. During National Farm Safety and Health Week, we renew our Nation’s commitment to protecting the well-being of everyone who works in agriculture.
The prosperity that American farms provide our Nation can come with great personal risk. Agriculture has long been one of our most dangerous industries, with nearly six times as many fatalities as other industries, often due to tractor rollovers and road accidents while moving equipment from farm to field. Heavy labor, unsafe pesticides, extreme heat and weather, volatile markets, and other uncertainties can cause stress and injury. At the same time, nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, making it harder to find emergency treatment and health care in agricultural areas.
When I ran for office, I promised to be the most pro-worker President in history and to get rural communities the resources they need to keep everyone healthy and safe. My Administration has fought to keep workers safe on the job—including issuing the first-ever Heat Hazard Alert, ramping up enforcement of heat-safety violations, increasing inspections in high-risk industries like agriculture, and working toward a national standard for workplace heat-safety rules. The Department of Agriculture is investing $500 million in American Rescue Plan funds
Meanwhile, my Administration is also focused on growing the rural economy more broadly. We are getting States the funds they need to expand access to small and midsized meat and poultry processing so producers have a better shot at fair prices. We are harnessing the bioeconomy and creating new revenue streams for farmers by supporting new and innovative products, like plant-based packing materials and sustainable aviation fuels. Throughout, we are making sure small and midsized farmers and ranchers have a chance to succeed right where they are from so the wealth they generate stays in their communities and their children can keep farming, building a stronger rural economy long-term.
America’s farms, farmworkers, and ranchers represent the best of our Nation. Working together, we can make sure they have all they need to live healthy and safe lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 17 through September 23, 2023, as National Farm Safety and Health Week. I call upon the people of the United States—including America’s farmers; ranchers; and agriculture-related institutions, organizations, and businesses—to reaffirm a dedication to farm safety and health. I also urge all Americans to express appreciation and gratitude to our farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers for their tireless service to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The right to vote and to have that vote counted is the threshold of democracy. Without it, nothing is possible, but with it, anything is. On National Voter Registration Day, we reaffirm our commitment to ensur
Since the founding of our country, countless Americans have fought to secure the right to vote and to have that vote counted for all. Women did not secure the right to vote until 1920. Black Americans were denied full citizenship and voting rights up until 1965. Time and again, Americans have fought against great opposition—they have marched, protested, and even died for the right to vote. They have done the hard work of our democracy by registering voters and getting them to the polls.
Yet, even today, the voting rights of so many hang in the balance. The Supreme Court weakened the landmark Voting Rights Act, and in the years since, States have enacted dozens of anti-voting laws. On January 6, 2021—one of the darkest moments of our Nation’s history—we saw the violent and deadly insurrection at the Capitol perpetrated by election deniers. It is clear that the fight to preserve our democratic values and norms is not over. Just as generations of Americans past rose to the occasion, protecting and securing the right to vote, we must answer the call to fight for our democracy today.
Delivering a Government by and for the people begins and ends with the ballot box. My Administration will do everything in our power to protect it. It is why I signed an Executive Order that established a whole-of-government effort to promote access to voter registration and election information all across America, including in underserved communities. In response, Federal agencies have taken action to help make it easier for veterans and college students to register to vote. The Department of Justice has also doubled its voting rights staff. As President, I will continue to fight back against State legislation that undermines the will of the American people. I continue to call on the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to expand access to voting and prevent voter suppression. Passing these laws is the only way to fully secure the right to vote in every State.
Today, I think of the words of the late civil rights trailblazer Representative John Lewis: “Democracy is not a state; it is an act.”; As our democracy faces threats from those who seek to weaken the right to vote, it has never been more important to act—to protect and expand the right to vote. I know that we will—not just because our cause is just, our vision is clear, and our hearts are full but because generations of Americans refused to give up until they secured voting rights for all of us. Now it is our turn to secure the right to vote for all Americans once more. For the generations to come, for the strength of our democracy, and for the preservation of our extraordinary experiment in self-government, we must remain committed to securing the right to vote for all and redeeming the soul of our Nation.
On National Voter Registration Day, I call on all eligible Americans to ensure that they are registered to vote by checking that their registration is accurate and up to date and to help their communities do the same. Visit www.Vote.gov for more information on how to register to vote. I also urge policymakers and constituents alike to join me in preserving, reinforcing, and expanding this essential constitutional right.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Our Nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are rooted in a fundamental tenet of our democracy: A quality education is a right that belongs to all people, and every single American should be free to pursue the limits of their talent and ambition. During National Historically Black Colleges and Universities Week, we recommit to supporting and investing in HBCUs so they can continue the essential work of educating and empowering students who enrich the soul of our Nation.
Throughout their history, HBCUs have instilled in their students a sense of culture and purpose and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of all Americans. They are centers of academic excellence, producing 40 percent of all Black engineers in America, 50 percent of all Black lawyers in America, 70 percent of all Black doctors and dentists in America, and 80 percent of all Black judges in America. They are incubators of scholars and educators; advocates and athletes; and leaders in every sector of our society, including industry, public interest firms, faith, medicine, and the arts and sciences. They have molded trailblazers, visionaries, and public servants, who have helped make our democracy more inclusive and equitable. I see the excellence of HBCUs manifested every day in my Administration by HBCU alumni who are gifted members of my cabinet—like Vice President Kamala Harris and Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency Michael Regan—and in staff serving at all levels of my Administration.
Despite the wealth of their contributions to our society, HBCUs often do not have the same endowments and financial resources as other colleges and universities. That is not only unfair—it undermines the full potential of our Nation. It means leading institutions are often unable to build and fund research labs, which can lead to the new technologies and innovations that define American excellence. That is why, with the help of Vice President Harris, my Administration has delivered more than $7 billion to HBCUs—including to prepare students to contribute to the future in high-demand and high-income fields, like cybersecurity, engineering, biochemistry, and health care. I have also re-established the White House Initiative on Advancing Edu
While talent, creativity, and the willingness to work hard are everywhere in this country, equal opportunity is not. To make sure every American has the opportunity to pursue higher education, my Administration has increased the maximum Pell Grant by $900—the largest increase in the last decade—and my new budget will put us on a path to double the maximum award by 2029. Further, in response to my budget, the Congress established a program to provide direct support to academic institutions by creating and sustaining evidence-based strategies that support students through college re-enrollment, retention, and completion.
There is still so much to do to make higher education more accessible and affordable. Last year, I announced a student debt relief plan, and we were on the verge of providing thousands of dollars in relief to more than 40 million Americans. Then the Supreme Court ruled against it, derailing an opportunity that would have changed so many lives for the better. Though that decision closed one door, I responded immediately by announcing that my Administration is pursuing an alternative path for debt relief, and that we finalized the Saving on a Valuable Education Program (SAVE)—the most affordable student loan repayment program ever created.
This program calculates loan payments based on a student’s income and family size, not on the size of the loan. Under this plan, some students’ monthly payments will drop to zero, and others will save around $1,000 a year. Borrowers who pay what they owe on this plan will no longer see their loans grow due to unpaid interest, and the program will get some borrowers to forgiveness faster. I will never stop fighting to create the student debt relief Americans need to help restore their faith in the American Dream. With the Supreme Court’s decision to effectively end affirmative action, my Administration will continue fighting to put quality education within reach of everyone and fulfill the promise of America for all Americans. Lastly, my Administration is aware that there have been threats by domestic extremists who may seek to spread fear on HBCU campuses. We are committed to protecting any and all Americans who find themselves on the frontline of domestic extremist threats or violence.
More than five decades ago, in response to an act of racist terror, a young Morehouse student named Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote a letter to the Atlanta Constitution saying, “We want and are entitled to the basic rights and opportunities of American citizens.”; In those words, we see just one example of the sacred and proud tradition of HBCUs: opening the doors of opportunity wider for students, helping them find the power in their voice, and giving them the tools to make true change in our world. Today, we recommit to supporting HBCUs that, in raising the next generation of dreamers and doers, bring more equity, prosperity, and opportunity for our Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 24 through September 30, 2023, as National Historically Black
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs) Week, we celebrate all the possibilities that these institutions unlock for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI) students, particularly those from low-income, first-generation, and underrepresented backgrounds. Every generation of Americans has benefited by opening the doors of opportunity to include those who have been left behind. By putting higher education within reach of AA and NHPI students, our Nation’s nearly 200 AANAPISIs embody my belief that diversity is our strength as a Nation.
For so many, higher education is a ticket to a better life. But while talent, creativity, and determination are found in people all across this country, not everyone has an equal shot at higher education. AA and NHPI communities encompass more than 50 ethnicities with a variety of identities, cultures, histories, and backgrounds—many come from lower-income backgrounds, or are the first in their family to graduate college, indigenous, or recent immigrants, or have faced a legacy of discrimination in our Nation. That is why the work of our AANAPISIs is so critical for broadening the opportunity of higher education to more Americans and realizing the full potential of AA and NHPI communities.
AANAPISIs enroll nearly half of all AA and NHPI undergraduates, and they confer almost 50 percent of associate degrees and nearly 30 percent of baccalaureate degrees of all AA and NHPI students. These vital institutions empower students to earn degrees and reach their full potential while providing culturally responsive services and culturally sustaining programs that include tutoring, advising, career development and counseling, and more. With the Supreme Court’s recent decision to effectively end affirmative action in college admissions, the work to make higher education accessible to all is as essential as ever. We need to keep open the doors of opportunities and ensure that the promise of America is big enough for everyone to succeed.
My Administration is committed to strengthening these critical institutions and supporting our Nation’s AA and NHPI communities. Through the American Rescue Plan, we have invested $5 billion in AANAPISIs. Further, I re-established the White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders, and I released a National Strategy to Advance Equity, Justice, and Opportunity for AA and NHPI Communities—addressing everything from combating anti-Asian hate to making Government services more accessible.
We are also fighting to make higher education more affordable for students across the country. My Administration has increased Pell Grants for low-income families by the largest amount in over a decade and fixed the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program so borrowers who become teachers, police officers, social workers, service members, and other public servants get the debt relief they are entitled to under the law. When the Supreme Court wrongly struck down our most ambitious student debt relief plan ever, we moved immediately to open an alternative path to debt relief that could further reduce costs for many AA and NHPI borrowers. My Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan will cut payments on undergraduate loans in half, bring many low-income borrowers’ loan payments to $0 per month, and provide early forgiveness for borrowers with low balances.
This generation of students is the most gifted, talented, and tolerant in American history—and it is up to all of us to give them the resources and opportunity they need to reach their full potential. During Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week, may we recommit to supporting these institutions as they raise the next generation of AA and NHPI dreamers and doers.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 25 through October 1, 2023, as Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions Week. I call on public officials, educators, and all the people of the United States to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities that acknowledge the many ways these institutions and their graduates contribute to our country.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
America’s natural wonders are the heart and soul of our Nation, and the tens of millions of Americans who hunt and fish have often led the fight to conserve them. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we
Hunting and fishing have long been a way of life and a cherished pastime in our Nation, and central to the cultures and livelihoods of Tribal Nations. From day one, I have taken historic steps to conserve the lands and waters that these activities rely on and to ensure our public lands are available to every American.
In my first week as President, I signed an Executive Order establishing our country’s most ambitious conservation goal ever: to conserve or restore at least 30 percent of our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030. In just my first year in office, we protected more territory than any President since John F. Kennedy. We have protected iconic and sacred places from Alaska’s Tongass Forest to Avi Kwa Ame National Monument and the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments—all as part of our “America the Beautiful”; initiative to support locally led conservation and restoration work. In addition, we have expanded access for hunting and fishing on over two million acres of land within our national wildlife refuge system, the largest such expansion in recent history. Working together with the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Council, the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior are pursuing further improvements to hunters’ and anglers’ access to public lands and waters.
At the same time, climate change poses an existential threat to wildlife and their habitats. Longer heatwaves and droughts, more unpredictable storms, and more devastating wildfires make hunting and fishing tougher and far riskier. We have fought to change that. Through the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, my Administration is making the biggest investment in combating the climate crisis in the history of the world by strengthening clean energy, advancing environmental justice, and shoring up communities’ resilience to extreme weather, ensuring that hunting and fishing can sustainably continue as they have for generations.
It is simple: Hunting and fishing are part of who we are as Americans—central to our history, heritage, and prosperity and ingrained in the soul of our Nation. Protecting the natural resources that allow hunting and fishing are also an important part of upholding our sacred trust, treaty, and subsistence responsibilities to Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. On National Hunting and Fishing Day, we honor these profound contributions and recommit to working together with sportsmen and sportswomen, land owners, State officials, local leaders, and Tribal Nations to safeguard our great outdoors for the ages.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 23, 2023, as National Hunting and Fishing Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-
Our public lands—including our national parks, monuments, forests, and wildlife preserves—are irreplaceable and home to so many of the natural wonders that represent the heart and soul of our Nation. They unite and inspire us, and from generation to generation, they have sustained us. On National Public Lands Day, we welcome every American to celebrate our Nation’s lands and waters in all their splendor.
As we honor the power and promise of our Nation’s natural majesty, we also recommit to conserving our lands and waters for generations to come. When we conserve our public lands, we are doing more than protecting their beauty. We protect the places where history was made. We safeguard the air we breathe and the water we drink. We defend the livelihoods of people who depend on these lands and waters as a way of life, like our ranchers, outfitters, guides, and rural and Indigenous communities. We honor the sacred lands that Tribal Nations have stewarded since time immemorial. We make our Nation more resilient to the impacts of climate change.
That is why my Administration has developed the most ambitious land and water conservation agenda in American history. During my first week in office, I issued an Executive Order establishing the country’s first-ever National Conservation Goal to protect at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. That means supporting locally led, voluntary conservation and restoration efforts across the country—the very cornerstone of my “America the Beautiful”; initiative. I also signed an Executive Order to protect America’s forests, harness the power of nature in the fight against climate change, and initiate the first National Nature Assessment to evaluate the state of our lands, waters, and wildlife.
Together, we have made strong progress toward those goals. My Inflation Reduction Act represents the largest investment in our history dedicated to confronting the climate crisis. Along with investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments will also help fuel environmental justice and conservation efforts, including more than $50 billion dedicated to strengthening the resilience of our communities and ecosystems to the impacts of climate change. To address the wildfire crisis, many Americans who care for our Nation’s forests are using these investments to implement critical conservation and stewardship practices, working toward our goal of reducing the wildfire risk on up to 50 million acres of public and private land through science-based fuels and forest health treatments—a land size equal to that of South Dakota.
I have designated five new national monuments and restored protections for lands and waters across the country. In Alaska, we protected the Tongass National Forest and the salmon of Bristol Bay and took significant steps to protect the fragile coastal plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and special areas in the Western Arctic. We restored the protections and status that the previous administration rolled back in the Bears Ears National Monument, the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, and the North East Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. I had the honor of visiting Camp Hale Continental Divide in Colorado last year and adding it to the list of national monuments, for the first time in our history. I established the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument in Nevada, considered one of the most sacred places on Earth by several Tribal Nations. Most recently, I protected almost one million acres of public land around the Grand Canyon National Park as the new Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni National Monument. I declared the entire United States Arctic Ocean off-limits to new oil and gas development, and my budget for next year requests new funding to ensure that public lands are accessible to every American.
In celebration of our public lands, several Federal agencies have announced that all of our country’s national parks, forests, refuges, and grasslands will have a “Fee-Free Day”; on September 23rd so everyone can access some of our Nation’s most iconic places and all their wonder, free of charge. There are also several fee-free days throughout the year, and the last for 2023 will occur on Veterans Day, November 11th. Whether it is visiting the rolling hills of the Appalachians, the majestic Grand Canyon, or the towering peaks of Mt. Rainier in Washington State, I encourage all Americans to take some time to explore the beauty our country has to offer.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 23, 2023, as National Public Lands Day. I invite all Americans to join me in a day of service for our public lands. I also encourage volunteers from across the Nation to celebrate and care for our lands and waters by reforesting the land, maintaining trails, building bridges, nurturing native ecosystems, removing invasive species, and doing other conservation work to serve the lands and waters that support and sustain us.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On this day of solemn remembrance, my heart is with all our Nation’s Gold Star mothers and fathers, wives and husbands, and daughters and sons—all the families who are grieving a loved one, a patriot, who died fighting to defend our country and preserve our freedom. Today, we keep the faith with all those who kept faith with us by recommitting to our sacred obligation as a Nation to always care for the families of those who gave their last full measure of devotion to our Nation.
From the fields of Yorktown and the shores of Normandy to the rice paddies of Busan and Saigon, the valleys of Kandahar, and the mountains of Sinjar, generations of brave men and women have laid down their lives—not for a person or place but for an idea unlike any other in human history: the idea of the United States of America. And together, they helped deliver a Nation grounded in freedom, democracy, equality, tolerance, opportunity, and justice. All of us live by the light of the flame of liberty that our fallen heroes kept burning. Their legacies—guarded and strengthened by each generation—will always live on in our Nation.
I know that days of remembrance can bring grieving families right back to the first terrible moments when the hurt was so raw. The pain of remembering those we have lost and the pride in who they were and how they lived can be inseparable. As we honor the courage and sacrifice of all those who died in uniform, the First Lady and I are keeping all our Gold Star families in our prayers. And my Administration has made it a top priority to fulfill our Nation’s promise to care for military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors—the loved ones who provide strength through countless deployments and serve our Nation in so many ways, all while enduring their loved one’s absence. Over the past two and a half years, I have signed into law more than 25 bipartisan laws to support our service members and veterans as well as their families, caregivers, and survivors, and we will always stand with our Gold Star families to ensure they have support and resources to help them heal.
On Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, we grieve for those who paid the ultimate price to keep our Nation safe and secure and for the families who will always feel their absence. May we continue to honor their sacrifice by working toward that more perfect union, for which so many patriots lived and died, and may we always keep faith with our Gold Star families who carry their light forward each day.
The Congress, by Senate Joint Resolution 115 of June 23, 1936 (49 Stat. 1895 as amended), has designated the last Sunday in September as “Gold Star Mother’s Day.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sunday, September 24, 2023, as Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. I call upon all Government officials to display the flag of the United
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Digital technologies today touch nearly every aspect of American life—from our classrooms and communities, to our economy and national security. That is why—this Cybersecurity Awareness Month—my Administration renews our commitment to securing cyberspace and seizing the unlimited potential of our digital future.
From the start of my Administration, I have made cybersecurity a national security priority because cyber threats affect every sector of society, from the critical infrastructure that underpins our daily lives to the schools where we educate our children and the products we use in our homes. In May 2021, I issued an Executive Order to modernize the Federal Government’s cyber defenses—creating mechanisms for agencies to quickly identify and respond to cyberattacks. I instituted minimum cybersecurity standards for critical infrastructure sectors, including mandates for the protection of pipelines, rail, and aviation. This past August, the White House hosted a Cybersecurity for K–12 Schools Summit, where we announced new resources for schools to address the threat of ransomware attacks. We launched the “U.S. Cyber Trust Mark”; program with voluntarily participation from leading product manufacturers and retailers to help Americans choose safer smart devices to bring into their homes—while also establishing security standards for software purchased by the Government, helping to raise the market standard for digital technologies writ large. In July, we released a new National Cyber Workforce and Education Strategy, which will empower more Americans to pursue careers in the cyber field and strengthen our resilience for generations to come. And, as we implement historic legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the CHIPS and Science Act, we are committed to incorporating cybersecurity measures into everything we build and produce—from bridges and roads to computer chips and the electrical grid.
Cyber threats cross borders, which is why we are also taking the same historic action on the global stage. In 2021, my Administration established the International Counter-Ransomware Initiative, which will convene for the third time this fall in Washington, D.C., bringing together more than 40 partners from around the globe to address the
Our world—including our digital world—stands at an inflection point, where the decisions we make today will determine the direction of our world for decades to come. This is particularly true as we develop and enforce norms for conduct in cyberspace. We must ensure the Internet remains open, free, global, interoperable, reliable, and secure—anchored in universal values that respect human rights and fundamental freedoms. And, we must ensure that digital connectivity is a tool that uplifts and empowers, not one used for repression and coercion. Today, and every day, the United States commits to advancing this vision from a position of strength—leading in lockstep with our allies and partners everywhere who share our aspiration for a brighter digital future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as Cybersecurity Awareness Month. I call upon the people, businesses, and institutions of the United States to recognize and act on the importance of cybersecurity and to observe Cybersecurity Awareness Month in support of our national security and resilience. I also call upon business and institutions to take action to better protect the American people against cyber threats and create new opportunities for American workers to pursue good-paying cyber jobs. Americans can also take immediate action to better protect themselves such as turning on multifactor authentication, updating software on computers and devices, using strong passwords, and remaining cautious of clicking on links that look suspicious.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During the throes of the American Revolution, General George Washington wrote a letter to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences saying, “The arts and sciences [are] essential to the prosperity of the State and . . . the ornament and happiness of human life.”; His words are a reminder that, since our founding days, America’s arts and hu
My Administration is committed to ensuring that appreciation of and access to the arts and humanities are within the reach of every American. My American Rescue Plan invested over $1 billion to help libraries, theaters, concert halls, and other venues, and we have invested hundreds of millions more into strengthening the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). I also signed an Executive Order to make art more accessible to people from underserved communities, elevate new voices through the arts and humanities, and expand opportunities for artists and scholars.
In coordination with the White House United We Stand Summit, the NEH launched a new initiative titled “United We Stand: Connecting Through Culture”; that leverages the arts and humanities to combat hate-motivated violence—utilizing the power of art to promote civic engagement and cultural understanding. This project helps reaffirm our Nation’s central promise that hate will have no safe harbor in America. And we recently announced the top five awardees of Art x Climate—the first-ever call for visual art that will be featured in the fifth National Climate Assessment.
One of the greatest joys The First Lady and I have is the opportunity to celebrate the arts through performances and screenings here at the White House. Over the past two and a half years, we have held screenings of films, welcomed dancers to the state floor, and hosted musicians and poets whose performances captured our hearts and souls in a way that only artists can. And I have honored the indelible impact of incredible artists and scholars—from a poet and a painter to musicians and actors—by awarding National Humanities Medals and National Medals of Arts and by hosting Kennedy Center honorees here at the White House. Each of these artists are a testament to a larger truth: that we are a great Nation in large part because of the power of the arts and humanities, which is forever stamped into America’s DNA.
During National Arts and Humanities Month, may we celebrate all the artists and scholars who have dared to reveal the good, bad, and truth of our Nation, and, in the process, have strengthened the covenant that is our democracy.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Arts and Humanities Month. I call on the people of the United States to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and celebrations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-
Cancer touches nearly every family in America, including mine. That is why finding cures and addressing the needs of patients and their families is a central pillar of my Unity Agenda, as I discussed in my very first State of the Union address—it is the kind of goal that can unite us all as Americans, regardless of our differences. This National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let us all recommit to the work of ending cancer as we know it. May we honor those we have lost, offer strength to those who continue to live with breast cancer, and work to protect the health of future generations.
Nearly 300,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and one in eight women in America will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetimes. We have made enormous progress in our decades-long fight against cancer—discovering new prevention and early-detection measures and exploring medicines and therapies to extend and save lives. Despite these advancements, a breast cancer diagnosis is not only frightening but also a doorway into a confusing world of appointments, procedures, and expenses. While facing months of grueling treatments, breast cancer patients and their families are flooded with a bewildering amount of medical information to decipher and often have to advocate to receive basic care and attention. On top of these stresses, they also worry about paying their medical bills.
That is why the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot and set ambitious goals to cut the overall cancer death rate by at least half in the next 25 years, transform more cancers from death sentences into treatable diseases, and improve the treatment experience for patients and their families. As a first step toward realizing these goals, I established the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA–H) and secured $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding to drive scientific breakthroughs in prevention, detection, and treatment for cancer and other diseases. The agency is pioneering partnerships to help disseminate the impact of those breakthroughs to clinics and patients. And recently, it announced research into the use of mRNA technology, an innovative component of the COVID–19 vaccine, to train our own immune systems to fight cancer and other diseases. It will also lead the exploration of novel technologies to enhance the precision and accuracy of surgical procedures involved in removing cancerous tumors from the body. Also, the first class of Moonshot scholars has been selected, which will help build a cancer research workforce that better represents the diversity of America and prepare a new wave of innovators in the cancer field.
Improving treatment options is only part of the fight. We also need to make those treatments affordable for everyone who needs them. That is why I made it a priority for the Inflation Reduction Act to cap out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 per year—including expensive cancer drugs. My Administration has also strengthened Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to expand and protect health care coverage, saving nearly 15 million Americans $800 per year on health insurance premiums.
Because screening and early detection are critical to saving the lives of breast cancer patients, my Administration remains committed to maintaining and improving the accessibility of cancer care secured in the ACA. This means requiring insurers to pay for cancer screenings—including mammograms—as well as maintaining coverage for cancer survivors and others who have preexisting conditions. In addition, we are doubling our investment and making new alliances with community health centers that provide early detection and support services to underserved communities. Most recently, we also expanded access to breast cancer screenings for any veteran exposed to burn pits—regardless of their age or family history.
More information is available online at cancer.gov/types/breast or by calling 1–800–422–6237 to reach information specialists at the National Cancer Institute, who can answer cancer-related questions in English and Spanish. Also, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program provides breast cancer screenings and diagnostic services to those with low incomes who are uninsured or otherwise qualify for the program—learn more at cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp/screenings.htm.
For the lives we can save and those we have lost, let this National Breast Cancer Awareness Month be a moment of unity that rallies the country to end cancer as we know it. Together, we can give patients, survivors, and their families the care, hope, and support they deserve.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and other interested groups to join in activities that will increase awareness of what Americans can do to prevent and control breast cancer and pay tribute to those who have lost their lives to this disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
America is once again leading the world in the fight against climate change, and our Nation is in the midst of a clean energy revolution—reducing pollution, lowering energy costs, creating good-paying jobs, and making sure clean energy technologies are made in America. During National Clean Energy Action Month, we celebrate that historic progress and commit to continue working to build a more sustainable and energy secure Nation for future generations.
Clean energy has never been more essential. The climate crisis is driving extreme heat, deeper droughts, deadlier storms, and stronger wildfires, destroying lives and livelihoods—last year alone, major disasters caused over $177 billion in damages. Climate change is the existential threat of our time, and clean energy is key to tackling it.
My Administration is focused on fueling America’s clean energy future so we lead the world in industries like solar, wind, geothermal, and advanced nuclear energy. When I took office, we set ambitious goals of reaching 100 percent clean electricity by 2035 and achieving net-zero-emissions by 2050. To get there, I signed the landmark Inflation Reduction Act, which makes the biggest investment in fighting climate change and advancing clean energy in the history of the world. It provides tax credits and rebates that can save families thousands of dollars by installing solar panels, energy-saving appliances, and heat pumps; weatherizing their homes to be more resilient against extreme weather; and purchasing American-made electric cars. The law is expected to triple wind power generation, increase solar production eightfold by 2030, and put tens of billions back in the pockets of Americans. Together with my Administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments could help us reach 80 percent clean energy by 2030.
As I have often said, when I think of climate change, I think of jobs—good-paying clean energy jobs. Since the beginning of my Administration, the private sector has announced more than $240 billion in new clean energy manufacturing investments. That includes more than $70 billion in electric vehicle and battery investments since I signed the Inflation Reduction Act. The clean energy projects that have moved forward in the past year are creating more than 170,000 clean energy jobs. My Administration is incentivizing companies to pay every one of those workers a prevailing wage and to use registered apprenticeships and made-in-America materials. And we are leaving no community behind—from the investments we are making to factories being built and jobs we are creating, we are seeing new opportunities in rural America, in the heartland, in energy communities, and all across our country.
My Administration is also working to upgrade our Nation’s infrastructure. We have made the biggest investment in America’s power grid ever, laying new transmission lines so clean energy can reach every corner of the country. We are installing more than 500,000 electric vehicle charging stations on roads nationwide. And we are speeding up permitting for clean energy projects while proposing new emissions
Today, the United States is deploying more solar and wind power than ever. Electric vehicle sales and clean energy manufacturing are booming. But we have much more to do. The climate crisis will not wait, nor will clean energy competitors in other nations. Americans must come together to win the clean energy future—the future of our economy, our national security, and our children and grandchildren all depend on it.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Clean Energy Action Month. I call upon all Americans to recognize this month with action by investing in clean energy in their homes and businesses; using new tax credits to cut emissions while saving money on their energy bills and electric vehicles; talking to neighbors, friends, and coworkers about the opportunities to address the climate crisis; and working together to mitigate climate change and achieve a healthier environment for all.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
People with disabilities have long strengthened our economy and expanded our Nation’s possibilities. During National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we recognize the immense contributions of disabled Americans, and we recommit to delivering America’s full promise of equal dignity, respect, and opportunity for every American.
I had the honor of helping to pass the Rehabilitation Act in my first year in the United States Senate. Then, in 1990, with the help of activists and bipartisan legislators and under the leadership of Senator Tom Harkin, we passed the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)—a groundbreaking civil rights law that banned discrimination against people with disabilities in most areas of public life, including in workplaces, schools, and public transit. I was proud to co-sponsor that law back then and to build on its lasting legacy in the Obama-Biden Administration, including by setting hiring goals for people with disabilities in Federal contracts.
While the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA made significant strides toward equal opportunity for people with disabilities, there is more work to do. People with disabilities are three times less likely to have a job,
Since the start of the my Administration, we have been working hard to promote job opportunities for Americans with disabilities. I truly believe that a workforce that includes people with disabilities is one that is stronger and more effective. And as the Nation’s largest employer, the Federal Government has a responsibility to set the standard for fair and decent practices in the workplace. That is why, in my first year in office, I issued an Executive Order to prioritize diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the Federal Government. That Executive Order directs agencies to identify and remove barriers to hiring and promotion for job applicants and employees with disabilities as well as maximize the accessibility of workplaces.
My Administration has also ended the use of unfair sub-minimum wages in Federal contracts, which previously allowed employers to pay workers with disabilities less than the minimum wage for federally contracted workers. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor is working around the clock to protect the rights of disabled workers on Federal contracts and to promote their competitive integrated employment alongside other similarly situated workers without disabilities. The Office of Disability Employment Policy launched several national online dialogues to solicit broad stakeholder input on the effectiveness of employment programs and services for people from underrepresented groups within the disability community. In addition, we are coordinating with our partners at all levels of government, in the private sector, and in civil society to use Federal funding to provide new employment opportunities to people with disabilities.
My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is also funding projects that are lowering transportation barriers that prevent disabled Americans from finding employment. This once-in-a-generation investment in our Nation’s infrastructure is making transit and public services more accessible. It includes $1.75 billion to repair and improve accessibility in transit stations across America and $65 billion to expand access to high-speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home. In August, the Department of Justice issued a notice of proposed rulemaking under Title II of the ADA that aims to improve web and mobile applications access for people with disabilities and clarify how public entities—primarily State and local governments—can meet their existing ADA obligations as many of their activities shift online, further breaking down barriers to employment.
America is the only country in the world founded on an idea: that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. This National Disability Employment Awareness Month, we celebrate all the people with disabilities who have moved our Nation closer to realizing that ideal and, in the process, have made America more prosperous, inclusive, and humane. As we celebrate the progress we have made, may we continue to open the doors of opportunity even wider for people with disabilities by advancing access and equity.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. I urge all
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Domestic violence touches every community in this Nation. Americans of every race, religion, and background are affected; its consequences transcend generations, impacting children and reshaping whole families. During National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, we stand with the tens of millions of people who have experienced intimate partner violence, and we thank the first responders, service providers, and community members who work to make sure that every American can live in safety, with dignity and respect.
I was always taught there is no worse sin than the abuse of power, especially when that abuse is directed toward a partner. But just decades ago, much of our Nation wanted to keep the issue of domestic violence in the shadows. Survivors sat in shame, and society often looked away from what people too often dismissed as a “family affair.”;
I have spent more than 30 years of my life working to change that—to end gender-based violence in the United States and around the world. I wrote the original Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in 1990, which made strides toward shifting the legal and social burdens away from survivors, holding offenders accountable, and addressing gendered violence as a shared priority with a determined and coordinated response. That law introduced our Nation to countless brave survivors, whose stories changed the way America saw this issue. It created the National Domestic Violence Hotline to provide confidential support nationwide. It supported shelters, rape crisis centers, housing, and legal assistance, creating life-saving options for survivors and their children. And it helped to train police, advocates, prosecutors, and judges to make our justice system more responsive to survivors. It saved lives and helped survivors rebuild.
Since then, every time we have reauthorized VAWA, we have improved it—broadening its scope to include stalking and sexual assault in 2000, expanding access to services for immigrants and communities of color in 2005, and recognizing criminal jurisdiction of Tribal courts over non-Indian perpetrators and protections for LGBTQI+ individuals in 2013. And last year, we reauthorized VAWA again and strengthened access to services for survivors from underserved and marginalized communities, expanded special Tribal criminal jurisdiction with sup
Last year, I also signed the most significant gun safety law we have had in nearly 30 years, which keeps firearms out of the hands of convicted domestic abusers. Another law I signed ensures we continue to sustain the Crime Victims Fund to help domestic violence survivors cover abuse-related costs like medical bills, lost wages, and temporary housing. And further, I signed a law empowering survivors of workplace sexual assault and sexual harassment to take their cases to court. We fundamentally transformed how the military prosecutes sexual assault and domestic violence within its ranks, shifting to specialized prosecutors independent from commanders. We have established a civil cause of action for anyone who has had their intimate photos shared without their consent, and we are working to prevent the spread of deepfake non-consensual images too. And last May, we released the first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, laying out a Government-wide plan to prevent and address sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence.
Despite all this progress, we have more to do. Four in 10 American women and nearly 3 in 10 American men are still impacted by sexual abuse, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetimes. If you or someone you know needs help today, immediate and confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Domestic Violence Hotline by visiting thehotline.org, call 1–800–799–7233 (TTY 1–800–787–3224), or text “START”; to 88788.
Every survivor should know that they are not alone and they deserve better. Together, we will keep spreading awareness, changing culture, supporting survivors, and moving toward a world free of gender-based violence.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. I call upon each of us to change the social norms that permit domestic violence, provide meaningful support to survivors, and express gratitude to those working diligently on prevention and response efforts. Together, we can transform the country and build a Nation where all people live free from violence.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Youth Justice Action Month, we recognize that young people deserve second chances, and we recommit to transforming the juvenile justice system by creating safer and more supportive communities where young people can thrive.
Between 2000 and 2020, the youth population in juvenile justice facilities declined by nearly 80 percent. But those who do enter the juvenile justice system are often confined in unsafe environments, live with trauma and mental health conditions that go untreated, and serve adult sentences. They are disproportionately young people of color and young people with disabilities. Without the support, resources, or guidance for meaningful rehabilitation, many young people who are released can fall back into old patterns that lead to their return to the justice system.
My Administration has made historic investments in improving our youth justice system. We are working to shift its focus from punishment to support and making our Nation’s promise of equal justice a reality for all. My Administration is establishing and expanding evidence-based diversion programs when appropriate and broadening access to lawyers who will advocate for and advise children who are facing juvenile and criminal justice system involvement. For those leaving the system, our investments and programs are helping youth find housing, educational opportunities, mentorship, job training, and other services to support them once they return home. My new budget also calls for $760 million to advance juvenile justice programs with the goal of making the entire system more equitable.
I believe that to keep children out of trouble we need to ensure all of them have a fair shot at building a bright future with access to good schools, safe communities, and equal opportunities. To this end, my Administration has launched the National Partnership for Student Success to bring together 250,000 people across the country to serve as tutors and mentors for our students. We have secured $1.3 billion in funding for rural and inner-city schools to support afterschool and summer learning programs for K–12 students.
We also doubled funding for Full-Service Community Schools that support students and their families outside of the classroom with services like health care and career counseling. And when we passed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly three decades, we included measures to further increase the number of school psychologists and mental health counselors available to our children, and we made it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver health services, including mental health care. My Administration also launched 988, the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which can connect young people experiencing a crisis with trained crisis counselors via phone, chat, and text. And we have invested in mobile crisis response teams, which often work with law enforcement to deliver immediate mental health professional support for those in crisis.
Our young people are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft—the future of our Nation is in their hands. During National Youth Justice Action Month, we recommit to expanding opportunities for all of our Nation’s children and building a justice system that allows our youth to thrive.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Youth Justice Action Month. I call upon all Americans to observe this month by taking action to support our youth and by participating in appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, we rededicate ourselves to building a better future for America’s children. No one should have to struggle with substance use alone. Every young person deserves to live a full and healthy life and have every opportunity to reach their highest potential.
Last year, our Nation lost nearly 111,000 Americans to fatal overdoses—1,000 of those lost to overdose were children and adolescents less than 18 years old. No family should have to know the pain of losing a child to the opioid and overdose epidemic. Losing a child is like losing a piece of your soul. We owe it to all those who are struggling with substance use or who have lost a loved one to overdose to finally put an end to this crisis.
That is why beating the opioid epidemic is a key pillar of my Unity Agenda. It is one of the most pressing issues facing our Nation that we must all tackle together. My Administration has invested over $169 billion in total for drug control policies and programs, including programs to expand evidence-based prevention programs for our youth. In schools, we are working to hire and train more mental health counselors, social workers, and other health professionals supporting students. We are providing educators and school-based medical professionals with resources to prevent substance use and fatal overdoses. And we are making it easier for schools to bill Medicaid to deliver health services, including mental health and substance use care.
Beyond the classroom, my Administration is supporting Drug-Free Communities coalitions in all 50 States so that local communities can acquire the tools and resources they need to prevent youth substance
To support Americans of all ages who need access to substance use disorder treatment, my Administration has announced new actions that would improve and strengthen coverage for mental health and substance use and ensure that more than 150 million Americans with private health insurance can better access substance use treatment under their insurance plan. My Administration proposed a rule this summer that reinforces the fundamental goal of the 2008 Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, ensuring families have the same access to mental health and substance use benefits as they do to physical health benefits. The rule proposes making it easier to get in-network mental health care and eliminating administrative barriers to access that keep people from getting the care they need, when they need it.
Over the past 2 years, we have seen immense progress, but there is still work to do. That means we are investing in what works—prevention, treatment, and recovery support. My Fiscal Year 2024 budget called for $3.5 billion for prevention programming for youth—an increase of more than $800 million from last year—so we can keep America’s children safe from the harms of substance use and fentanyl poisoning.
Today’s young people represent the most gifted, talented, and tolerant generation in American history. It is our national responsibility to protect them. During National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month, we recommit to providing families, educators, and communities with access to lifesaving resources. Together, we will ensure that young people have the tools they need to thrive. Our children deserve nothing less.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 2023 as National Youth Substance Use Prevention Month. Let us all take action to implement practice- and evidence-based prevention strategies and improve the health of our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
All Americans want the same thing: neighborhoods free of violence and crime, for our loved ones to come home safely each day, and fair
The vast majority of police officers put their lives on the line every day to do the right thing. They pin on their shield and walk out the door toward danger, risking their lives to keep the rest of us safe. They are good, dedicated, honorable people, who work hard to cultivate positive relationships with the communities they have sworn to protect, serving at a time when working in law enforcement is harder than it has ever been. Law enforcement officers are expected to act as counselors, social workers, and psychologists as they respond to drug overdoses, domestic violence, abandoned children, mental health crises, and other incredibly challenging situations.
Trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve is the foundation of public safety. When officers on the beat know the neighborhoods and the families they are serving and protecting; when they get the training, resources, and tools they need to do their jobs; and when they earn the community’s trust, we are all safer and stronger. Without public trust, there is less public safety—crimes go unreported, cases go unsolved, witnesses fear coming forward, victims suffer in isolation, perpetrators remain free, and justice remains undelivered.
That is why my Administration has taken historic steps to support community policing and strengthen public trust in law enforcement by providing officers with the resources and training they need to be the partners and protectors our communities deserve. When funding for police was at risk because of the pandemic, my Administration’s American Rescue Plan delivered a historic $350 billion to help States and cities respond. Hundreds of communities across our Nation have committed over $10 billion of those funds to retain and hire more officers; pay overtime and bonuses; and secure more crisis responders and personnel to provide for substance use disorder, mental health, and violence intervention services. We committed more Federal resources to supporting State and local law enforcement in the first year of my Administration than almost any other year on record. Furthermore, I signed the most sweeping gun safety law in nearly 30 years to ensure that officers are not out-gunned on the streets. And we are strengthening background checks for gun purchasers, cracking down on illegal gun sales, and reigning in ghost guns that officers have increasingly reported finding at crime scenes.
After Senate Republicans blocked the passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act in 2021, I signed an Executive Order—with the support of leaders from law enforcement and civil rights groups as well as affected families, including the Floyd family—that put Federal policing on a path to becoming the gold standard for effective and accountable policing. Incorporating key elements of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, the Executive Order requires Federal law enforcement agencies to ban chokeholds, restrict no-knock warrants, provide de-escalation training, and implement stronger use-of-force policies that include the duty to intervene and render medical aid. Further, we mandated that Federal officers submit use-of-force data to the FBI’s Use-of-Force Data Collection and log officer misconduct and commendation records into a new national accountability database. The Executive Order also directs Federal resources to support similar re
My Administration’s Safer America Plan builds on these actions by seeking an additional $37 billion to hire 100,000 more State and local police officers trained in safe, effective, and accountable community policing consistent with the standards in my Executive Order; to provide law enforcement with mental health and wellness resources; to ensure more psychologists and social workers are available to respond to a crisis alongside them; and to establish and support programs that are proven to tackle the root causes of crime.
There is no greater responsibility of government than ensuring the safety of the American people and those who sacrifice to protect us all. This week, let us recognize the heroism, selflessness, and courage of police officers across America. Let us honor the communities they serve for their undaunted efforts to advance equal justice, safety, and dignified treatment for all. And let us commit to building a future that supports public safety, promotes trust, and unites communities across the Nation.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 1 through October 7, 2023, as National Community Policing Week. I call upon law enforcement agencies, elected officials, and all Americans to observe this week by recognizing ways to improve public safety, build trust, and strengthen community relationships.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
To build a future worthy of our children’s highest aspirations, we must ensure they have the resources and support they need to thrive. This Child Health Day, we recommit to helping our children live healthy lives so they can reach their highest potential.
Our most fundamental obligation to our children is to keep them safe. The devastating truth is that firearms are the leading cause of death for children in America. That is unacceptable. Kids and parents should not live in fear of everyday places turning into warzones. That is why I signed the most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years to keep guns out of dangerous hands. I have also taken more meaningful executive action than any President in history to keep communities safe.
My Administration has invested billions of dollars to improve mental health services for young people, including hiring and training more school mental health counselors so young people can get the care they need. I have heard from parents, teachers, nurses, and kids across the country about the mental health crisis among youth in their communities. Tackling the mental health crisis and the many ways it affects our communities is a part of my Unity Agenda—one of the big things we can come together as a society to solve. Our American Rescue Plan made our Nation’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs—recruiting, training, and supporting more providers at the State and local levels, including in our schools. Our gun safety law also expands the number of Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care.
My Administration is also taking steps to make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health care. And we launched 988, the Nation’s new Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, so anyone in the midst of a crisis can receive free life-saving, confidential help right away. My Administration is working to fulfill our promise of full mental health parity for all Americans. This includes a new proposed rule that would require insurers to identify gaps in the mental health care they provide and address any differences between the way they cover mental health care and physical health care, as a way to reach any American who may need help. Further, we must do more to make the Internet a safe place for children. I have called on the Congress to limit the personal data that tech companies collect, ban targeted advertising directed at minors, and require social media platforms to put health and safety first, especially for kids. And to protect our children’s physical health, my Administration has taken steps to remove thousands of flavored e-cigarettes from the market, which are known to be particularly addictive to children.
No parent or caregiver should have to lie awake at night wondering how they will find the means to care for a child’s most basic needs—whether it is paying for a trip to the emergency room or putting a healthy meal on their table. Our Inflation Reduction Act is lowering costs for Americans, saving millions of families $800 a year on health care premiums. My Administration also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first time since 1975, helping millions of families afford a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet. And we are working toward our goal of expanding free school meals to 9 million more children by 2032—a first major step toward free healthy school meals for all.
In 2021, we slashed child poverty rates by nearly half for all children in this Nation—driven by our expansion of the Child Tax Credit, which helped millions of families afford basic necessities. We reauthorized and reinvested in the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program, which has been shown to improve maternal and child health and advance child development and readiness to participate in school. We know that investments like these can improve children’s health outcomes throughout their lifetimes, which is why I am continuing to fight to restore the expanded Child Tax Credit.
We also recognize that addressing the climate crisis is critical to protecting our children’s futures. Parents across the Nation have told me
Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I am working to replace every single lead pipe in America because everyone should be able to turn on a faucet at home or at school and drink clean and safe water. My Inflation Reduction Act makes the most significant investment in climate ever, which includes investing in air quality sensors near factories so nearby communities can know how safe their air is. And we made a commitment to conserve 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 so that we can protect our natural wonders for the ages.
Children are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft—they are the dreamers and doers that will one day lead our Nation forward. It is up to all of us to make sure they grow up happy and healthy, they are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve, and their futures are full of endless possibilities. May we continue to care for children’s health and, in turn, create a better future for our Nation.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has called for the designation of the first Monday in October as Child Health Day and has requested that the President issue a proclamation in observance of this day.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 2, 2023, as Child Health Day. I call upon families, child health professionals, faith-based and community organizations, and governments to help ensure that America’s children stay safe and healthy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Senator Dianne Feinstein was a pioneering American and a true trailblazer. In San Francisco, she showed enormous poise and courage in the wake of tragedy, and became a powerful voice for American values. In the United States Senate, she turned passion into purpose, and led the fight to ban assault weapons, also making her mark on everything from national security to the environment to protecting civil liberties. Senator Feinstein was a role model for so many Americans and she
As a mark of respect for the memory of Senator Dianne Feinstein, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On National Manufacturing Day, we celebrate American workers—the best workers in the world, who are leading a new manufacturing boom in our Nation—and we pledge to keep investing in them to make sure the future is Made in America.
Manufacturing is the backbone of our economy, but for the past few decades, we have not always treated it that way. We were told that trickle-down economics was the only way forward—cutting taxes for the wealthy and big corporations; slashing public investment in priorities like education, infrastructure, and health care; and letting American manufacturing jobs be shipped overseas. As a result, economic inequality only grew. And with every manufacturing town that was hollowed out, communities lost not just jobs but also pride and self-worth.
I ran for President to change that—to grow our economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down, moving from trickle-down economics to what some in the press are calling “Bidenomics.”; Our plan is working. We have seen over 13 million new jobs created, including 800,000 manufacturing jobs. Unemployment has been below 4 percent for the longest stretch in over 50 years. And our inflation rate is among the lowest across the world’s major economies. It is simple: Bidenomics means we are growing our economy by strengthening the middle class and making things in America again.
As a result, companies are reinvesting in America, building factories that will power our economy for years to come. Since I took office, we have attracted over $500 billion in private investment to American manufacturing and the industries of the future. Real spending on factory construction doubled in the last 2 years, and hit a record high in August, after falling under my predecessor—and so far this year, it has contributed more to gross domestic product growth than any 6 months on record. Instead of exporting American jobs, we are creating American jobs and exporting American products again.
This progress is possible because we are doing what has always worked best in our country—investing in America and in American workers. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I signed puts Americans to work rebuilding our Nation’s roads, bridges, ports, and more using American-made materials. We have already announced more than 37,000 new projects across all 50 States. The CHIPS and Science Act is making sure the United States leads the world in innovation by bringing semiconductor manufacturing home so we never again rely on foreign supply chains for the computer chips that power everything in our lives, from cellphones and cars to sophisticated weapons systems. The Inflation Reduction Act is powering a clean energy revolution, increasing our production of essential batteries and clean energy technologies and making sure a sustainable and energy independent future is Made in America. And we are collaborating with employers, unions, community colleges, high schools, and other partners to help more Americans train for the good manufacturing jobs and careers that these investments are creating.
But we are not only making things in America again—we are making sure the Federal Government buys American as well. I started by introducing the most robust updates to the Buy American Act in nearly 70 years, increasing the proportion of American-made content required in federally-acquired goods. I announced new standards requiring that the lumber, glass, fiber optic cables, and other construction materials used in Federal infrastructure projects must be made in America. And I signed an Executive Order requiring Federal research-and-development agencies to prioritize domestic manufacturing when it comes time to bring taxpayer funded inventions to market. When the Federal Government spends taxpayers’ money, we are making sure it is on American products made by American workers, creating American jobs.
For too long, too many of us have been told to give up on American manufacturing. I will never do that. We are living through one of the greatest industrial revivals in our Nation’s history. There is no one that America cannot outcompete. We used to lead the world in manufacturing, and by investing in America and in our people, we are leading the world in manufacturing growth. Jobs are coming home. Factories are coming home. And we are feeling pride once again in the phrase that is finally a reality and not just a slogan: “Made in America.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2023, as National Manufacturing Day. I encourage all Americans to look for ways to get involved in your community and join me in participating in National Manufacturing Day and, most importantly, buying American.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During Fire Prevention Week, my Administration reaffirms our commitment to preventing fires before they happen and mitigating the damage when devastation strikes. We also honor our brave firefighters and first responders, who put their lives at risk to save others and help their communities rebuild from the rubble.
This year, we have already seen tens of thousands of wildfires burn over two million acres to the ground. And climate change will only intensify the threats that wildfires pose. Further, over one thousand Americans and dozens of firefighters have died in fires this year. Whether they are fires that start at home, in parks or neighborhoods, or in forests and the great outdoors, the devastation these fires cause mean far more than numbers can capture—they reflect lives lost; families heartbroken; natural resources wiped out; and homes, businesses, community centers, and so much more destroyed.
That is why my Investing in America Agenda includes the most significant climate investment in history. As part of that agenda, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is investing billions of dollars for enhanced drought resilience, early wildfire detection, and post-wildfire restoration and rehabilitation. And with historic funding for green manufacturing, clean energy development, and climate-smart agriculture, the Inflation Reduction Act is putting us on a path to cut America’s carbon emissions by at least half by 2030.
My Administration is doing everything we can to make sure firefighters have the resources they need to do their jobs as safely, effectively, and efficiently as possible. I am proud to have increased the Federal firefighter minimum wage to $15 an hour—a critical first step in giving these heroes the pay, respect, and dignity they deserve. We have also created new programs to improve recruitment, retention, and professional opportunities for Federal firefighters. In addition, we have increased Federal funding for local fire departments to hire more firefighters and expanded Federal grant programs to pay for hundreds of emergency response vehicles and thousands of sets of turnout gear.
In times of tragedy, we so often find the most profound stories of hope and heroism. Across the country, the First Lady and I have been amazed by the courage and strength of those we have seen reestablishing their lives in the aftermath of devastating fires—neighbors helping neighbors, communities coming together, and people from all walks of life working with one another to rebuild what has been lost, making our Nation more resilient. We remain focused on the recovery
This week, we also encourage Americans to take the time to educate themselves on fire prevention and safety. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme—“Cooking safety starts with YOU. Pay attention to fire prevention”;—emphasizes the simple actions we can all take to remain safe while preparing food. That includes: being alert while cooking and turning the stove off if leaving the kitchen is necessary; keeping anything that can catch fire away from stovetops; turning pot handles toward the back of the stove; and keeping a lid nearby.
This Fire Prevention Week, let us honor those we have lost in these catastrophes, remain vigilant to prevent future fires from occurring, vow to support those who rush into danger to help us in times of need, and recommit to spreading awareness about the importance of fire safety.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 8 through October 14, 2023, as Fire Prevention Week. I call on all Americans to participate in this observance with appropriate programs and activities and by renewing their efforts to prevent fires and their tragic consequences.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
I have often said that children are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft. During National School Lunch Week, we recognize that the health and well-being of children is a national priority and that every student should have access to healthy meals. We also reaffirm our support of the National School Lunch Program and all school nutrition professionals nationwide for the work they do to feed 30 million children each school day.
School lunches have long been a lifeline for so many students across our country. For all families, including those that qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch, parents have the peace of mind of knowing there is a healthy, balanced meal available to their children. And children, fueled by their school lunches, can more effectively focus and learn in the classroom. In fact, studies show that nutritious school lunches may increase academic performance and reduce the likelihood of childhood obesity. And we know these school lunches are especially
In order to build a stronger and healthier Nation, my Administration has made the well-being of American families and our children a priority. Our American Rescue Plan expanded the Child Tax Credit, which helped keep food on the table for millions of families during the pandemic, slashed child poverty by nearly 50 percent, and cut food insufficiency for families with children by more than 25 percent. My Administration also modernized the Thrifty Food Plan for the first time since 1975, making sure that the millions of families receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits can afford a nutritious, practical, cost-effective diet. And last year, I convened the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years, bringing together advocates, food companies, health care providers, and leaders from across the Government and Federal agencies. We also released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases by 2030. This strategy includes the goal of expanding access to healthy, free school meals to 9 million more kids in the next decade, a major step toward free healthy school meals for every student.
We have already made significant progress. By making permanent the American Rescue Plan program that gives families money to buy groceries in the summer months when school is not in session, we are fulfilling our commitment to ensure each American child has a nutritious meal every day. We are also giving more schools the option to make healthy school meals available to all students at no cost to their families during the school year. And we are continuing to support schools so they can cook more meals from scratch and purchase more food from local farmers and ranchers. That means children will have healthier meals, and farmers and ranchers will be able to participate in reliable markets, strengthening rural economies. I also continue to call on the Congress to restore my enhanced Child Tax Credit, which helped millions of families afford healthy food at home.
In America, no child should ever go to bed hungry—without healthy food, our children cannot thrive. And no child’s future should be determined by where they were born or their family’s income. During National School Lunch Week, we recognize that helping our children fulfill their highest potential begins with access to healthy and nutritious meals at school. And we honor all the farmers, ranchers, teachers, school nutrition professionals, and staff who make these lunches possible and nourish the soul of America.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 8 through October 14, 2023, as National School Lunch Week. I call upon all Americans to recognize and commemorate all those who operate the National School Lunch Program with activities that raise awareness of the steadfast efforts in supporting the health and well-being of our Nation’s children.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of
On German-American Day, we honor the over 40 million Americans who claim German heritage and the countless ways they have strengthened the diverse fabric of our Nation.
They have since the beginning. In 1683, 13 German families fled religious persecution at home and founded the first German settlement just outside of Philadelphia. Ever since, the story of German Americans has been inextricable from the story of America: German Americans fought for our freedom in the Revolutionary War, debates over the deliberations of the Continental Congress happened in German coffeehouses, a local German newspaper was the first to break the news that the Declaration of Independence had been signed, and so much more.
Today, German Americans continue to enrich our Nation’s character and culture as leaders in every sector and community. They also form the cornerstone of our Nation’s strong bonds with Germany and its people. As capable allies and close friends, the partnership between Germany and the United States is essential to our joint efforts to address global challenges—from tackling climate change and food insecurity to defending human rights and democracy. And together, we will continue to stand up for the values that unite us—freedom, liberty, and sovereignty—including standing with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal aggression.
On this day—340 years after the first German settlement was founded on American shores—let us celebrate the incredible legacy of generations of German Americans and the unbreakable bonds of friendship between our two countries.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 6, 2023, as German-American Day. I urge all Americans to celebrate the rich and varied history of German Americans and remember the many contributions they have made to our Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Today, we celebrate all the Italian Americans, whose courage and character reflect and help define our Nation.
In 1891, 11 Italian Americans were murdered in one of the largest mass lynchings in our Nation’s history. In the wake of this horrific attack, President Benjamin Harrison established Columbus Day in 1892. For so many people across our country, that first Columbus Day was a way to honor the lives that had been lost and to celebrate the hope, possibilities, and ingenuity Italian Americans have contributed to our country since before the birth of our republic.
More than a century later, we mark Columbus Day with that purpose—celebrating the heritage of Italian Americans, whose hands helped build our Nation and whose hearts have always carried faith in the American Dream. For many Italian Americans, the story of Christopher Columbus’ voyage—from the Spanish port of Palos de la Frontera on behalf of Queen Isabella I and King Ferdinand II—remains a source of pride. It reflects the stories of trips across the Atlantic that so many Italian Americans grew up hearing at the dinner table, whether tales of ancestors who set sail on wooden boats across rough waters to begin new lives on our shores or grandparents who immigrated here with little more than hope in their hearts. These are stories of people leaving everything they knew and loved behind for the promise of opportunity in the United States.
Today, we honor those stories told around the dinner table and celebrate what these hopeful Italian American newcomers brought to our Nation. Italian Americans are educators, service members, doctors, engineers, artists, Government officials, and leaders and innovators in every field. The Italian American community is also a source of strength for our Nation’s enduring relationship with Italy—an essential NATO ally and partner in the European Union. Together, we are working to address the challenges of our time, especially supporting the people of Ukraine in defense of their freedom.
America was founded on an idea: that we are all created equal, endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights, and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Though we have never fully lived up to that idea, our aspirations have never let us walk away from it either. Today, we honor all the Italian Americans who never walked away from our fundamental creed and who, for generations, have helped realize the full promise of our Nation.
In commemoration of Christopher Columbus’ historic voyage 531 years ago, the Congress, by joint resolution of April 30, 1934, and modified in 1968 (36 U.S.C. 107), as amended, has requested the President proclaim the second Monday of October of each year as “Columbus Day.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2023, as Columbus Day. I direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on all pub
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we honor the perseverance and courage of Indigenous peoples, show our gratitude for the myriad contributions they have made to our world, and renew our commitment to respect Tribal sovereignty and self-determination.
The story of America’s Indigenous peoples is a story of their resilience and survival; of their persistent commitment to their right to self-governance; and of their determination to preserve cultures, identities, and ways of life. Long before European explorers sailed to this continent, Native American and Alaska Native Nations made this land their home, some for thousands of years before the United States was founded. They built many Nations that created powerful, prosperous, and diverse cultures, and they developed knowledge and practices that still benefit us today.
But throughout our Nation’s history, Indigenous peoples have faced violence and devastation that has tested their limits. For generations, it was the shameful policy of our Nation to remove Indigenous peoples from their homelands; force them to assimilate; and ban them from speaking their own languages, passing down ancient traditions, and performing sacred ceremonies. Countless lives were lost, precious lands were taken, and their way of life was forever changed. In spite of unimaginable loss and seemingly insurmountable odds, Indigenous peoples have persisted. They survived. And they continue to be an integral part of the fabric of the United States.
Today, Indigenous peoples are a beacon of resilience, strength, and perseverance as well as a source of incredible contributions. Indigenous peoples and Tribal Nations continue to practice their cultures, remember their heritages, and pass down their histories from generation to generation. They steward this country’s lands and waters and grow crops that feed all of us. They serve in the United States military at a higher rate than any other ethnic group. They challenge all of us to celebrate the good, confront the bad, and tell the whole truth of our history. And as innovators, educators, engineers, scientists, artists, and leaders in every sector of society, Indigenous peoples contribute to our shared prosperity. Their diverse cultures and communities today are a testament to the unshakable and unbreakable commitment of many generations to preserve their cultures, identities, and rights to self-gov
When I came into office, I was determined to usher in a new era in the relationship between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations and to honor the solemn promises the United States made to fulfill our trust and treaty obligations to Tribal Nations. That work began by appointing Native Americans to lead on the frontlines of my Administration—from the first Native American Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials to the over 80 Native American appointees serving across my Administration and in the Federal courts. I restored the White House Council on Native American Affairs to improve interagency coordination and decision-making as well as the White House Tribal Nations Summit to bring together key members of my Administration and the leaders of hundreds of Tribal Nations.
Last year, I signed a new Presidential Memorandum that creates uniform standards for consultation between the Federal Government and Tribal Nations. And together, we are making historic investments in Indian Country. That includes $32 billion from the American Rescue Plan, the largest one-time direct investment in Indian Country in American history; more than $13 billion to rebuild infrastructure, the single largest investment in Indian Country infrastructure in history; and the biggest investment ever to combat the existential threat of climate change, including $700 million dedicated to climate change response in Native communities.
We are also working to improve public health and safety for Native Americans. That is why I signed an Executive Order that helps us respond more effectively to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. And when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act last year, I was proud to include historic provisions that reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and restore Tribal jurisdiction. I have also requested a $9.1 billion infusion for Indian Health Services and asked the Congress to make that funding a mandatory part of the Federal budget for the first time in our history.
My Administration will also continue using all the authority available to it, including the Antiquities Act, to protect sacred Tribal lands. We have already restored protections for Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument in New England. I have declared new national monuments at the Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado, Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada, and Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni in Arizona to protect lands that are sacred to so many Tribes. My Administration has also signed at least 20 new co-stewardship agreements with Tribes, and we are working on many more.
As we celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, may we renew the enduring soul of our Nation-to-Nation relationships—a spirit of friendship, stewardship, and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2023, as Indigenous Peoples’ Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities. I also direct that the flag of the United States be displayed on
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
It is believed that, roughly a millennium ago, Leif Erikson and his crew became the first Europeans to set foot in North America. These Norse explorers boldly charted new paths that would inspire adventurers for centuries to come. With bravery, optimism, and tireless effort, Leif Erikson embodied many of the same traits that future generations of Danes, Finns, Icelanders, Norwegians, and Swedes would weave into the fabric of America’s story. This Leif Erikson Day, we join together to honor the heritage of our Nordic communities and celebrate all they have done to strengthen our country.
Throughout our Nation’s history, countless Nordic immigrants have come to America—many with little more than the hope in their hearts. Motivated by the promise of possibilities and the search for the American Dream, these families packed up their lives on distant shores to build new homes here. Establishing communities across our Nation, Nordic Americans have contributed so much to our society. Nordic migrants helped lay our country’s foundations by fighting for liberty in our Armed Forces; establishing churches, schools, and businesses; and playing essential roles in the labor movement. And as public servants, doctors, engineers, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and so much more, Nordic Americans continue to push our Nation ever forward, enriching every part of American life.
Today, my Administration also reaffirms our strong relations with Nordic nations and their people. Grounded in our shared values of democracy, freedom, and justice, America is working with our Nordic partners to take on our greatest challenges. We are collaborating to address the climate crisis by increasing opportunity and investments in emerging technologies. And we are working together to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific and to provide security and humanitarian assistance to the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia’s brutal invasion. In service of these missions, last year, the United States supported the ratification process for Finland to join NATO—culminating in the fastest ratification period in modern history. We continue to fully support Sweden’s membership in our alliance. Our nations are stronger together, and we will continue working with these capable and committed partners.
This Leif Erikson Day, we celebrate the tremendous contributions of Nordic Americans to our Nation. Most of all, we rededicate ourselves
To honor Leif Erikson, son of Iceland and grandson of Norway, and to celebrate Nordic-American heritage, the Congress, by joint resolution (Public Law 88–566) approved on September 2, 1964, has authorized the President of the United States to proclaim October 9th of each year as “Leif Erikson Day.”;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim October 9, 2023, as Leif Erikson Day. I call upon all Americans to celebrate the contributions of Nordic Americans to our Nation with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of General Casimir Pulaski—whose story is forever woven into our Nation’s fight for independence and who remains a source of inspiration for all those standing for the cause of freedom around the world.
Born and raised in Warsaw, General Pulaski long fought against the Russian domination of Poland. In 1777—after learning of our young Nation’s aspiration for independence—he stepped up to serve alongside American soldiers in the Revolutionary War, including leading a critical counterattack that helped slow British advances. In 1779, General Pulaski made the ultimate sacrifice for our country—giving his life so that our Nation and our ideas of freedom, equality, and democracy might live.
General Pulaski’s heroism represents just one of the countless contributions that Polish people have made to promote liberty around the world—contributions we continue to see today. Since Russia’s brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year, the world has witnessed countless acts of courage and conviction by the people of Poland for the causes of freedom and human decency. They have donated tanks, artillery, and aircraft to support Ukraine’s self-defense and have become a key hub for aid from other partners. As I have seen first-hand during my trips to Poland these past 2 years, they have embraced Ukrainian refugees during this dark moment, offering them safety, hope, and light.
General Pulaski famously wrote to George Washington regarding the fight for our independence, “I came here, where freedom is being defended, to serve it, and to live or die for it.”; He laid down his life, not for a place, person, or President but for an idea unlike any other idea in all of human history—the idea of the United States of America, a citadel of liberty and beacon of freedom. As we pay tribute to his life and service, may we also honor our friends in Poland and our vibrant Polish American community, which continues to uphold his legacy and keep the flame of freedom burning bright.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2023, as General Pulaski Memorial Day. I encourage all Americans to commemorate this occasion with appropriate programs and activities paying tribute to General Casimir Pulaski and honoring all those who champion freedom around the world.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On International Day of the Girl, we recognize that when every girl around the world has the opportunity to realize her potential, the possibilities for our future are limitless.
Girls are dreamers and doers leading our world forward—growing up to become changemakers, innovators, entrepreneurs, service members, activists, public servants, and so much more. When we empower girls and ensure they have the resources they need to thrive, countries and economies are stronger, and the entire world is more secure. Yet in far too many places, girls are still being denied equal opportunity, prohibited from contributing to their communities and deprived of the freedom to pursue their dreams without violence and intimidation.
That is why my Administration puts women and girls at the heart of everything we do. I established the White House Gender Policy Council to advance gender equity and equality across all domestic and foreign policy. I released the first-ever United States National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, which provides a road map to advance the economic security, safety, health, and well-being of women and girls at home and around the world.
Every girl in America deserves an equal shot at fulfilling her highest aspirations and setting a strong foundation for the future often begins in the classroom. That is why my Administration has secured a historic $130 billion for America’s K–12 schools and invested $39 billion
We are also working to ensure that we tackle the mental health crisis, which is taking a toll on our Nation’s kids—especially girls. The American Rescue Plan made our country’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs—including resources to recruit, train, and support more providers at the State and local levels, including in our schools. We are also working to increase the number of school psychologists and mental health counselors available to our kids to make it easier for schools to bill Medicaid to deliver health services, including mental health care, and to expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics that deliver 24/7 care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.
Young women have also demanded that our Nation do better to protect us all from the scourge of gun violence. Last year, I signed the Nation’s first major gun safety law in nearly 30 years to prevent gun violence, increase access to mental health care, and save lives. We established the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention to build upon these measures.
My Administration also remains committed to ending gender-based violence, a human rights issue that undermines the safety, security, and dignity of girls everywhere. This includes taking steps to address the harmful impacts of social media on young people and responding to online harassment and abuse, which disproportionately impacts youth, particularly girls. In my State of the Union Address, I called on the Congress to pass legislation that strengthens our children’s privacy and online safety. We have worked with the Congress to reauthorize and strengthen the Violence Against Women Act, and we recently released a National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence—our country’s first Government-wide plan to prevent and address sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, and other forms of gender-based violence. We will continue supporting the rights of all women and girls—including transgender women and girls and all members of the LGBTQI+ community—across the Nation.
The United States is committed to empowering girls globally. Last year, we requested a historic doubling of foreign assistance to promote gender equity globally—to provide a record $2.6 billion in 1 year, including investments in the health, education, and empowerment of girls and young women—and I am pleased to say we have not only met but exceeded that request. Additionally, we are supporting equitable access to health care. We are working to improve access to education with a goal of reaching 15 million girls and young women by 2025. We are continuing to advance the efforts outlined in our updated United States Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence Globally.
Today, I am reminded of a message First Lady Jill Biden delivered to girls everywhere at an event honoring the Secretary of State’s International Women of Courage awardees: “When you learn and explore, when you raise your voice, when you move through the world with
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 11, 2023, as International Day of the Girl. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with programs, ceremonies, and policies that advance equity and opportunity for girls everywhere.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this tenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Whenever the First Lady and I travel across America, we witness both the incredible diversity of our country and the essential qualities that hold us all together. Americans possess an optimism that is tested yet resolute; a courage that digs deep when we need it the most; and an unshakable faith in one another, our Nation, and the future we can build together. During National Character Counts Week, we recognize the extraordinary character that resides in the soul of every American and the collective power we wield when we embrace one of our country’s most fundamental principles: E pluribus unum—Out of many, one.
Every day, Americans prove that we are a good Nation because we are good people. I have seen firsthand the incredible character of firefighters, police officers, service members, and their families, each of whom sacrifice every day to protect the rest of us. I have seen that very character in nurses and doctors, who are a source of light and hope for so many enduring hard times. I have seen it in artists, scholars, and journalists, who dare to tell the truth of our Nation. I have seen it in the union workers, who fight to make sure all of us get the dignity and respect we deserve. I have seen it in mothers, fathers, and caregivers, who work hard to build a future worthy of their children’s greatest dreams. I have seen it in all the teachers who go above and beyond to help students believe in themselves. I have seen it in our country’s young people—the most talented, tolerant, and educated generation in history.
Americans with exemplary character abound in our Nation. That is why I have never doubted that America can do great things when we
While we have made strides to unite the Nation around common causes, we have also made it a priority to fight back against forces that divide us and to remove obstacles that limit Americans’ ability to realize their full potential. We hosted the “United We Stand”; Summit at the White House, where we reaffirmed our commitment to fighting hate and racism and announced new measures to make sure hate has no safe harbor in America. We released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease by 2030, a moral duty we all share. No matter what we are working toward—whether it is addressing the climate crisis, reducing the cost of health care, or rebuilding our economy—respecting the character and dignity of the American people is at the heart of everything we do.
I have often said that America is the only Nation in the world founded on an idea: that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. Though we have never fully lived up to this promise, our national character has ensured we have never fully walked away from it either. Today of all days, let us remember that character is destiny—in our lives and in the life of the Nation—and that the soul of America depends on the souls of all Americans. As we reflect on the very best of our Nation’s character, may we recommit to lifting each other up and working together to form a more perfect Union.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15 through October 21, 2023, as National Character Counts Week. Now and throughout the year, I encourage all Americans to engage in efforts that honor and express the best attributes of our character, extend the hand of fellowship to their neighbors, and unite in service to their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
For generations, America’s forests have been a source of recreation and relaxation for millions of people; a sacred place for Tribal ceremonies and cultural practices; and a source of livelihood for foresters, loggers, mill workers, carpenters, Tribes, local communities, and others who rely on forest products and healthy forest ecosystems to support themselves, their families, and their communities. This National Forest Products Week, my Administration recommits to conserving our beautiful forests. When we responsibly steward the abundant renewable resources found in our Nation’s forestlands, we not only protect the environment but also support a critical pillar of our economy that uplifts communities across America.
From lumber and paper to clean water and fresh air, we depend on our forests to protect our environment and fuel our economy. But our forests—and the jobs and livelihoods of those who work in them—are endangered by a range of risks, including the existential threat of climate change. Extreme heat, more intense droughts, and decades of poor forest management have turned wildfire season into wildfire years—destroying countless acres of forestland and spreading smoky haze across our country.
From day one, my Administration has been committed to maintaining the health, diversity, and productivity of our forests. In my first week as President, I signed an Executive Order establishing the “America the Beautiful”; Initiative—our country’s first-ever national conservation goal—committing to conserve at least 30 percent of all our Nation’s lands and waters by 2030 through voluntary, locally-led efforts across the country. Keeping foresters and farmers working across our country in a sustainable manner is central to this initiative.
We are building on these successes with my Investing in America Agenda. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are making our forests and our communities more resilient by removing overgrown vegetation from land near homes and power lines, improving evacuation routes in areas susceptible to wildfires, and finding and removing invasive species that can cause fires to spread more easily. With historic funding from the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in the history of the world—for tree planting, sustainable forest management, and fire prevention, we are reducing the effects of climate change on our forests. I am proud to have increased the Federal firefighter minimum wage to $15 an hour—a critical first step in giving these heroes the pay, respect, and dignity they deserve.
My Administration is also working to create more opportunities for producers of American forest products. With a combination of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, my Administration is supporting American businesses that advance forest conservation and create jobs—awarding millions of dollars through the Wood Innovations, Community Wood, and Wood Products Infrastructure Assistance grant programs. These initiatives are expanding the sustainable and innovative use of American wood products and
Our Nation’s majestic forests are at the heart of who we are as Americans, connecting us to something bigger than ourselves. Conserving them not only sustains a vital part of our country’s economy but also preserves a key part of the American story for future generations. During National Forest Products Week, my Administration recommits to safeguarding and stewarding our precious forests so that we, our children, and our grandchildren can enjoy them for many years to come.
To recognize the importance of the many products generated by our Nation’s forests, the Congress, by Public Law 86–753 (36 U.S.C. 123), as amended, has designated the week beginning on the third Sunday in October of each year as “National Forest Products Week”; and has authorized and requested the President to issue a proclamation in observance of this week.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15 through October 21, 2023, as National Forest Products Week. I call upon the people of the United States to join me in this observance and in recognizing all Americans who are responsible for the stewardship of our Nation’s beautiful forested landscapes.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On Blind Americans Equality Day, my Administration celebrates the contributions that people who are blind or low vision have made to our country, and we recommit to creating a more accessible Nation where everyone has the opportunity to realize their full potential.
More than 33 years ago, the United States Congress passed the Americans with Disabilities Act, a landmark civil rights law that banned discrimination against people with disabilities in many areas of public life. I was proud to co-sponsor that historic bill as a United States Senator, and I am proud of its lasting impact today.
Despite the progress we have made, we have more work to do to uphold the rights of Americans with visual disabilities. Less than half of blind or low vision Americans are employed. Public services—including online resources—are often designed in ways that make them inaccessible to this community. These are but a few of the many obstacles blind and low vision Americans still face.
As President, I have made it a priority to end discrimination, increase independence, and expand opportunity for everyone, including Americans who are blind or low vision. Soon after taking office, I issued an Executive Order to establish a Government-wide policy of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the workplace to promote fairness in the labor market for Americans with disabilities. This Executive Order directs agencies to find and remove barriers to hiring and promotion for job applicants and employees who are disabled. Further, my Administration ended the practice of paying people employed through the AbilityOne Commission—which creates opportunities for people who are blind or have significant disabilities—less than minimum wage. I have also named the first-ever White House Disability Policy Director, whose team is working every day to defend and advance the rights of Americans with disabilities. I awarded José Feliciano the National Medal of Arts, recognizing his immense contributions as a guitarist and pioneering artist who has bridged cultures and styles, won Grammy Awards, and opened doors for generations of Latino artists and the heart of our Nation.
My Administration has also taken steps to increase accessibility for blind and low vision Americans. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are reducing the barriers that blind Americans face in their daily lives by investing $1.75 billion to improve the accessibility of transit stations across America. Under my direction, the Department of Transportation is working to expand access to transportation for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice has proposed a new rule that would make State and local governments’ web and mobile apps more accessible, enabling those who are blind or low vision to access critical online resources. Additionally, the National Institutes of Health designated people with disabilities as a population with health disparities, which will encourage research specific to the health issues and unmet health needs for blind and low vision Americans. I am also proud to have secured billions of dollars to expand educational opportunities for students with disabilities.
This Blind Americans Equality Day, let us rededicate ourselves to defending and strengthening the rights of blind and low vision Americans so each and every person in our Nation has the chance to achieve the American Dream.
By joint resolution approved on October 6, 1964 (Public Law 88–628, as amended), the Congress authorized October 15 of each year as “White Cane Safety Day,”; which is recognized today as “Blind Americans Equality Day,”; to honor the contributions of blind and low vision Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 15, 2023, as Blind Americans Equality Day. I call upon all the people of the United States—including all government officials, educators, and volunteers—to mark this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
During Minority Enterprise Development Week, we honor the innovators and job creators who run our minority-owned businesses and recommit to providing them with the resources they need to thrive and continue being engines of our economy.
Minority enterprises provide critical goods and services; generate nearly $2 trillion in revenue each year; and serve as reminders of realized American dreams and fulfilled hopes of economic mobility, community uplift, and generational wealth. But even as minority entrepreneurs make critical contributions to our country, they still face barriers that prevent them from reaching their full potential. Capital is frequently inaccessible to minority-owned businesses. Firms owned by minorities are more likely to experience financial stress than those owned by non-minorities. For too long, minority-owned companies had less access to Government contracts, keeping them from accessing some of the more than $650 billion spent by the Federal Government on purchasing goods and services. These conditions have made it so people who have the skills, the drive, and the determination to succeed are often unable to win in our economy.
My Administration is working to open the doors of opportunity to include those who have been left behind for too long. On my first day as President, I issued an Executive Order directing the Federal Government to use all the tools at its disposal to advance racial equity and support underserved communities, and we have taken steps to promote opportunities specifically for small disadvantaged businesses ever since. For example, in my Executive Order on Further Advancing Racial Justice and Support for Underserved Communities, I directed agencies to make efforts to increase the share of Federal contracts going to these companies to 15 percent by 2025. Within a year, we increased the amount these companies earned from Federal contracts by $7.5 billion—totaling nearly $70 billion in Fiscal Year 2022 alone. In addition, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has supported billions of dollars in lending to small businesses that would otherwise struggle to access vital capital. As part of those efforts, SBA has supported over $4 billion in loans to Black- and Latino-owned small businesses. Since 2020, the rate of SBA-backed loans going to Asian American-owned businesses has increased by about 40 percent; more than doubled for Black-owned businesses; and doubled for Latino-owned businesses, reaching a record $3 billion in lending. Indeed, Asian American-, Black-, and Latino-owned businesses are seeing faster creation rates today than they have in years. We have provided billions of dollars in investments to support Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-Serving Institutions, and Asian American and Native Amer
Through the American Rescue Plan, which I signed soon after coming into office to vaccinate the Nation and rebuild our economy, we invested $10 billion to re-establish and improve the State Small Business Credit Initiative—a program that leverages investments from the public and private sectors to increase access to capital for small businesses across the country. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law also expanded and made permanent the Minority Business Development Agency to ensure that support is always available to minority-owned businesses. We have also implemented other historic bills like the Inflation Reduction Act and the CHIPS and Science Act, we are ensuring minority business enterprises benefit from billions of dollars of investments to rebuild our roads and bridges, bring manufacturing back to America, and unleash a clean energy boom here at home.
America is the only Nation in the world founded on the idea that we are all created equal and deserve to be treated equally throughout our lives. We have never fully lived up to that promise, but we have never walked away from it either. This Minority Enterprise Development Week, my Administration remains dedicated to living up to our founding idea by leveling the playing field for minority-owned businesses, ensuring every American has the chance to build a business they can be proud of and realize their American Dream.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 22 through October 28, 2023, as Minority Enterprise Development Week. I call upon the people of the United States to acknowledge and celebrate the achievements and contributions of minority business owners and enterprises and commit to promoting systemic economic equality.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Seventy-seven years ago, leaders from around the globe gathered for the first United Nations General Assembly. With the horrors of World War II weighing on their hearts and the hopes of humanity resting on their shoulders, they established institutions that are an enduring legacy of the progress we have made in creating a world where all people can live with dignity. This United Nations Day, we renew our commitment to sustaining and strengthening those institutions. As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Dec
We are at an inflection point in world history. From Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine and Hamas’ brutal terrorist attack on Israel to the threat of climate change, we face enormous challenges to the systems our forebearers fought so hard to create. The decisions we make now will determine our course for generations to come. The United States has a duty to lead in this critical moment. We will continue to join together with international partners under a common vision for the future of the world. This means working together to accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—17 goals adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015 as a call to action and clear roadmap for people and the planet. Through the SDGs, we can advance toward a future where extreme poverty does not exist, our children do not go hungry, everyone has access to quality health care, workers are empowered, our environment is protected, entrepreneurs and innovators can access opportunity, conflicts are resolved peacefully, and countries can chart their own course. We will also continue to strengthen the United Nations’ ability to end conflicts, build peace, defend human dignity, and respond to the humanitarian impacts of war. No nation can meet these challenges alone, and my Administration recognizes the critical role the United Nations plays in bringing about that vision.
Our country stands ready to continue the charge toward making that vision a reality by seeking a more secure, prosperous, and equitable world for everyone. We are working across the board to make global institutions more responsive, more effective, and more inclusive. Working closely with our international partners, we are closing global infrastructure gaps, bolstering the bonds that unite our nations, and unlocking endless opportunities that represent hope and possibility for all people. Through our Partnership for Workers’ Rights, we are partnering with other United Nations member states around the world to give workers the tools they need to exercise their rights, promote a safe and decent work environment, advance a worker-centered clean energy transition, harness technology, and confront and condemn workplace discrimination in all its ugly forms. Meanwhile, we will continue working with our international partners to tackle the climate crisis and any other challenges we are confronted with.
When we stand together and recognize the common hopes that bind all humanity, we hold in our hands the power to bend the arc of history. So often, the work of the United Nations has been a reminder of those hopes, bringing us all closer together and pushing us to recognize one another as human beings worthy of dignity and respect. This United Nations Day, let us rededicate ourselves to supporting the United Nations in its mission to preserve peace, prevent conflict, and alleviate human suffering.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2023, as United Nations Day. I urge the Governors of the United States and its Territories, and the officials of all other areas under the flag of the United States, to observe United Nations Day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-third day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
As a mark of respect for the victims of the senseless acts of violence perpetrated on October 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset, October 30, 2023. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-sixth day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Every day, Americans across the country witness the absolute courage and selfless sacrifice of our first responders. Whether they are police officers and sheriff’s deputies protecting our communities; firefighters running into burning buildings; or emergency medical technicians, paramedics, 911 dispatchers, 988 crisis responders, and other public health workers providing emergency care, these heroes are always there for us when we need them. On National First Responders Day, we honor and celebrate these extraordinarily brave women and men who put themselves in harm’s way to keep our Nation safe.
Today we ask more of our first responders than ever before. Law enforcement officers who serve and defend communities across America are constantly confronted with dangerous threats. Firefighters face growing challenges as climate change makes deadly fires more frequent
My Administration is committed to supporting and protecting our Nation’s first responders. That is why I signed the American Rescue Plan, which provides States, cities, and Tribes with billions of dollars to retain and hire more law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency health providers; pay overtime and bonuses; and keep communities safe. Last year I was proud to sign into law the most sweeping gun safety bill in nearly 30 years to ensure our officers are not out-gunned on the streets. We are also strengthening background checks for gun purchasers, cracking down on illegal gun sales, and reining in ghost guns that are frequently used in violent crimes. In 2021, I signed into law the Protecting America’s First Responders Act, expanding death, disability, and education benefits for first responders killed or permanently disabled in the line of duty as well as their families.
In addition, I secured $600 million in my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law package to boost Federal firefighter pay and increased the minimum wage to $15 an hour—a critical first step in giving these heroes the pay, respect, and dignity they deserve. Meanwhile, we are supporting crisis response efforts through my Investing in America agenda, which includes funding to improve community resilience to natural disasters. My Administration also launched the National Firefighter Registry for Cancer, the largest effort ever undertaken to understand and reduce the risk of cancer among firefighters. I was proud to sign the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022 to provide access to job-related disability benefits to firefighters diagnosed with certain kinds of cancer or lung disease as well as legislation funding research on mitigating the risks firefighters face from toxic PFAS—so-called “forever chemicals”;—while ensuring the Department of Defense will no longer purchase gear that contains PFAS as soon as an alternative is available.
Today and every day, we thank our first responders for their immeasurable service and recommit to giving them the tools they need to succeed. We remember the patriots who lost their lives running toward danger to protect others. We honor the families of the first responders who continue to sacrifice so their loved ones can serve the rest of us and keep our communities safe. These heroes possess a rare commitment to their fellow Americans. They represent the best of who we are, and they are a big reason why I have never been more optimistic about our country’s future.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim October 28, 2023, as National First Responders Day. I call upon all the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities to honor our brave first responders and to pay tribute to those who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-
Throughout our history, America has been a can-do country full of possibilities. Our people are models of grit, drive, and determination, and when we properly prepare ourselves, we can meet any challenge that comes our way and ensure future generations thrive. This Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, let us recommit to reinforcing our critical infrastructure and remaining vigilant to threats that undermine our collective security and economic prosperity.
That means protecting our investments from all hazards and ensuring the infrastructure that American people rely on every day is secure and resilient. Climate change is making natural disasters more frequent, ferocious, and costly, straining our highways, railways, waterways, and energy systems. These disruptions—whether a natural disaster, a pandemic, or a cyberattack—exploit vulnerabilities in our supply chains and make it more difficult to access critical products when people need them. State and non-state actors, such as criminals and violent extremists, continue to target our power grids, pipelines, health care systems, and water systems—threatening the infrastructure that underpins our economy, public health and safety, and national security. As President, I am committed to building a better future for our country by making America’s critical infrastructure more secure and addressing the threats and hazards that place them at risk.
Bolstering the Nation’s infrastructure is a cornerstone of my Investing in America agenda. With a combination of funding from the American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Inflation Reduction Act, and the CHIPS and Science Act, we are investing billions of dollars to enhance the security of our infrastructure by elevating roads and bridges above projected flood zones, supporting community resilience programs, reducing the strain put on our power grids, and so much more. These investments will save lives, protect our families, render a strong and innovative economy, enhance our resilience to disasters, and provide peace of mind to millions of Americans.
We know that to protect our critical infrastructure we must improve our cybersecurity. From the very beginning of my Administration, we have worked tirelessly to strengthen our Nation’s cyber defenses. During my first year in office, I issued an Executive Order on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, a crucial step toward defending against the increasingly malicious cyber campaigns targeting our infrastructure. My Bipartisan Infrastructure Law builds on this progress by investing $1 billion to bolster cybersecurity for State, local, Tribal, and territorial governments. I am proud to have appointed senior cybersecurity offi
While my Administration is investing to protect America’s critical infrastructure, we are also working with our international partners to build sustainable, resilient infrastructure around the globe. At the G20 Summit earlier this year, through the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, I was proud to unveil the launch of the landmark United States partnership with the European Union to develop the Trans-African Corridor. We are working with partners to connect the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia to regional and global trade markets through the Port of Lobito in Angola, including by launching feasibility studies for a new greenfield rail line expansion between Zambia and Angola. This reliable and cost-effective corridor will increase efficiencies, secure regional supply chains, enhance economic unity, generate jobs, and decrease the carbon footprint in both countries. We hope to pursue opportunities to connect our initial investments across the continent to Tanzania and, ultimately, the Indian Ocean. Through quality infrastructure investments in key economic corridors like these, we are creating a better future filled with opportunity, dignity, and prosperity for everyone.
The United States is the only country in the world that becomes stronger after every challenge we face. Time and again, we have seen that when we work together, nothing is beyond our capacity. This Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month, let us come together in common cause to bolster our Nation’s critical infrastructure and create a more resilient nation and economy for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience Month. I call upon the people of the United States to recognize the importance of protecting our Nation’s infrastructure and to observe this month with appropriate measures to enhance our national security and resilience.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Children are the kite strings that hold our Nation’s ambitions aloft, and every one of them deserves to grow up in a safe and loving home. This National Adoption Month, we celebrate all the families made whole through adoption and recommit to ensuring that every child can build a life of happiness and well-being.
Today, more than a hundred thousand children are awaiting adoption in our Nation’s foster care system, hoping for the love, connection, and a lasting foundation that a permanent family can provide. To help more families cover the cost of adoption, I have urged the Congress to make the adoption tax credit fully refundable so that every adoptive family benefit, regardless of income, and can focus on building supportive lives together. I have proposed making legal guardians eligible as well so that loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others can care for children and keep extended families together. I have also expanded the Military Parental Leave Program, allowing service members to spend more time with their families after a child is born, adopted, or placed with them through long-term foster care. At the same time, my Administration is working to remove barriers that make it harder for LGBTQI+ families to adopt, including by providing State child welfare agencies with training and funds to better support and place LGBTQI+ youth in safe and compassionate environments.
Still, thousands of young people unfortunately will not be adopted before they age out of foster care. To help ease that transition, my latest budget called for $9 billion to provide housing vouchers to all 20,000 adolescents exiting foster care annually; and I sought another $1 billion to support job placement, health care, access to higher education, and other programs. My Administration is also working closely with States to help foster youth stay in school, train for jobs, pay their bills, and begin promising adult lives.
During National Adoption Month, we recognize the bonds of love shared by adoptive families across America. We celebrate the millions of adoptive and kinship families who have opened their hearts to provide safe and caring homes. We thank the foster families and dedicated professionals who help so much along the way. We stand with foster youth and adoptees of all ages and want you to know that you are never alone. This month especially, we encourage anyone who is considering adoption to take that brave and loving step forward, growing their families and adding profound meaning to their lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Adoption Month. I encourage all Americans to honor this month by helping the children and youth in your communities secure their forever homes and find the love and connection that they need to thrive.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Over six million Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease, a form of dementia that deprives people of their precious memories, thoughts, and identity. During National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month, we honor the extraordinary courage, strength, and resilience of people facing this devastating disease. We recognize the support of families and caregivers who stand by their loved one’s side and help them age with dignity. We resolve to continue advancing scientific research and treatment options to ensure a brighter future for all Americans facing Alzheimer’s.
Today, Alzheimer’s remains a leading cause of death in older adults. It exacts an emotional, physical, and financial toll on the entire family of those who are diagnosed—especially for African Americans and Latinos, who are more likely to develop dementias than any other races or ethnicities, and for individuals with Down syndrome, who are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s. My Administration has taken numerous actions to help treat and prevent this terrible disease. We worked with the Congress to secure $2.5 billion in bipartisan funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA–H). This agency is developing critical breakthroughs in preventing, diagnosing, and treating Alzheimer’s and other deadly diseases and pioneering partnerships to get those breakthroughs out to clinics and patients.
Earlier this year, the Food and Drug Administration granted the first-ever approval for a prescription drug that can alter the course of Alzheimer’s in some people, rather than simply treat symptoms—a sign of hope to so many patients and families affected by this disease. In addition, I was proud to sign an Executive Order on Increasing Access to High-Quality Care and Supporting Caregivers. As a result, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a groundbreaking model that will offer a comprehensive package for care management and coordination for people living with Alzheimer’s and related dementias, caregiver support and education, and respite services. Meanwhile, CMS continues to offer services that help people access cognitive care assessments, ensuring that those with Alzheimer’s receive the care they need. In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is creating a uniform national public health infrastructure focused on increasing early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, reducing dementia risk, preventing avoidable hospitalizations, and supporting caregivers of those living with dementia.
This November, let us honor the memory of those we have tragically lost to Alzheimer’s. Let us recognize the millions of Americans who are living with the impact of this condition every day and all the incredible caregivers, doctors, researchers, and advocates supporting them. Let us come together as a Nation; carry forward a spirit of hope; and recommit to doing everything we can to prevent, treat, and eliminate this disease.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month. I call on the people of the United States of America to honor and support those living with Alzheimer’s and the many people who continue extraordinary and tireless efforts to combat this disorder. I encourage all Americans to visit www.Alzheimers.gov for evidence-based resources and information.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
One in ten Americans has diabetes, and of that group, one in five of them do not know that they do. While this chronic condition is becoming more common, there is so much that we can do to help prevent and manage it. During National Diabetes Month, we recommit as a Nation to making treatment more affordable, improving care, and finally finding a cure.
Every day, millions of Americans with diabetes struggle to afford life-saving insulin. It costs drug companies just $10 a vial to produce, but some charge more than 30 times that amount. Americans across the country have told me how those high prices sometimes force them to ration their medication, too often resulting in dangerous health complications that could have been avoided. Too many of them know what it is like to lay awake at night, staring at the ceiling, wondering how to choose between putting food on the table and buying the insulin they need to stay alive. It is wrong.
I ran for President to rebuild the middle class—and that includes working to make health care a right in this country, not a privilege. For decades, big pharmaceutical companies have blocked efforts to lower prescription drug costs, but together, we took them on and won. Last year, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, one of the most significant laws ever passed to reduce prescription drug prices, capping insulin at $35 per month for seniors on Medicare, down from as much as $400 per month. The Inflation Reduction Act finally gave Medicare the ability
While we keep working to make diabetes medications more affordable, my Administration is also focused on prevention, early interventions, improving treatments, and finding a cure. Today, one in three American adults has prediabetes, with a risk of developing Type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Diabetes has serious consequences. It is a leading cause of death in the United States, and once diagnosed, increases one’s risk of heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, and loss of toes, feet, or legs. It is important to be aware of diabetes risk factors, many of which relate to nutrition and physical activity deficits. To learn more about risk factors and how to combat prediabetes, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Prevention Program: https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/prevention/index.html.
Last year, we launched the Advanced Research Project Agency for Health (ARPA–H) to drive breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating deadly diseases, including diabetes. Research advances have already helped develop several new diabetes drugs, including the first that can delay the onset of Type 1 diabetes, giving recently diagnosed people more time before starting insulin. This year, the Food and Drug Administration also approved the first cell therapy for adults with Type 1 diabetes who cannot safely manage their glucose levels with insulin as well as the first new oral medication for children with Type 2 diabetes in over two decades. We remain committed to robust research investment and to providing pathways to drive the development and delivery of additional, effective treatments and much-needed cures.
At the same time, we have expanded health coverage nationwide and lowered health care costs for millions of Americans, including the nearly 15 million Americans who buy their coverage under the Affordable Care Act and are saving $800 per year on their premiums. We are also cracking down on surprise medical bills and junk health insurance plans that look affordable but then stick consumers with big hidden costs. Last year, we held the first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health in over 50 years where we convened advocates, health care providers, food companies, and officials from every level of government. We have laid out a vision to prevent and reduce the pervasiveness of diet-related disease, like diabetes, across the United States by 2030, outlining a comprehensive strategy to end hunger and put healthy food on the table. Our plan incorporates steps to better prevent and manage diabetes, including by expanding access to nutrition counseling and working with the Congress to make the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program permanent.
We want all 37 million Americans with diabetes to know that we have their backs and that the historic progress we have made to lower insu
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim the month of November 2023 as National Diabetes Month. I call upon all Americans, school systems, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, health care providers, research institutions, and other interested groups to join in activities that raise diabetes awareness and help prevent, treat, and manage this disease.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Whether they are running family restaurants or opening new factories, American entrepreneurs create businesses that are the heart and soul of our communities. This National Entrepreneurship Month, we honor the job creators, business owners, and daring innovators who remind us of the promise of the American Dream.
When I first took office, the American economy was reeling. Small businesses across the Nation were being crushed. Hundreds of thousands of storefronts were closed for good, and millions more were hanging on by a thread. But over the past few years, our economic plan has unlocked extraordinary opportunities for entrepreneurs. In my first 2 years in office, we saw a record 10.5 million new business applications—the most ever recorded in a 2-year period in American history. Asian American-, Black-, and Latino-owned businesses are seeing faster creation rates today than they have in years. The economy has created nearly 14 million new jobs. Our entrepreneurs form the backbone of our Nation’s economy, and I remain committed to making sure they have the resources they need to succeed.
As my Administration implements historic legislation that is transforming our economy, we are working to ensure entrepreneurs reap the benefits. My Administration is leveraging American Rescue Plan funds to provide billions of dollars of capital and technical support to small businesses across the country so they can start and scale their businesses in high-growth, high-wage industries. We are also investing in small disadvantaged businesses to provide fair opportunities to entrepreneurs from underserved and underrepresented communities who have historically been left behind, including through the Minority Business Development Agency, which was made permanent through
Our entrepreneurs are models of drive, resilience, and determination—the very virtues that built America. From small towns to big cities, these dreamers and doers are the glue that holds our communities together and the fuel that propels our Nation forward. As President, I recognize the critical contributions that our Nation’s entrepreneurs make, and I remain committed to giving them the support they need to thrive.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Entrepreneurship Month. I call upon all Americans to commemorate this month with appropriate programs and activities and to celebrate November 21, 2023, as National Entrepreneurs’ Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
How we treat our children, parents, and loved ones and how we value those who care for them are fundamental to who we are as a Nation. Early care and education give young children a strong start in life while long-term care helps older Americans, veterans, and people with disabilities live and work with dignity. During National Family Caregivers Month, we honor the Americans who lift up our communities and our Nation by providing dignified, professional, and invaluable care to the people we cherish the most.
The cost of care in this country is too high, and the pay for care workers is too low. A majority of Americans struggle to find affordable, high-quality care for themselves and their loved ones. At the same time, care workers remain among the lowest-paid workers in the country, though their jobs are some of the most demanding. More than half
No one should have to choose between the parents who raised them, the loved ones who depend on them, or the paycheck they rely on to care for their families. That is why as soon as I got into office, I signed the American Rescue Plan to help millions of families afford child care. Through that law, we provided $145 million to help the National Family Caregiver Support Program deliver counseling, training, and short-term relief to family caregivers and other informal care providers. We also helped States expand and strengthen Medicaid home care programs, increased Child Care and Development Block Grants that help low-income families afford child care, and provided crucial support to stabilize the child care sector more broadly. Consequently, we were able to keep the doors of 220,000 child care providers open during the pandemic, ensuring nearly 10 million children received care.
Last year, we also issued the first-ever national Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, outlining hundreds of actions that the Federal Government can take to support family caregivers’ health, well-being, and financial security. We required companies seeking significant Federal funding from our CHIPS and Science Act to submit a plan on how they will help employees access affordable child care. Further, my Administration proposed a rule that would set a Federal floor for staffing levels in nursing homes. This spring, joined by people with disabilities, family caregivers, long-term care workers, early educators, veterans, and aging advocates, I signed a historic Executive Order that calls for the most comprehensive set of actions of any administration to date to increase access to high-quality child care and long-term care and support for caregivers. The order improves access to home-based care for people with disabilities and veterans, expands access to mental health benefits to care workers and veteran family caregivers, lowers child care costs for hard-working families, builds the supply of high-quality care to provide more options to individuals and families, helps protect workers from exploitation, and much more.
This week, we recognize the love and sacrifice of millions of American caregivers. They are the backbone of our country, caring for young children, aging parents, disabled veterans, injured service members, and others who need support and medical assistance. Let us celebrate and honor our caregivers and renew our efforts to protect their dignity, health, and security. Because when we care for our caregivers, we honor our American ideals and move closer to a future where no one in this Nation is left behind.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Family Caregivers Month. I encourage all Americans to reach out to those who provide care for our Nation’s family members, friends, and neighbors in need to honor and thank them.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
This year, nearly 250,000 Americans will be diagnosed with lung cancer, the leading cause of cancer death in the United States. During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, we honor the resilient people who have faced this diagnosis, the loved ones who rally to their side, and the medical professionals who do all they can to help patients survive and heal. We recommit to ending cancer as we know it by investing in new, affordable ways to prevent, detect, and treat this deadly disease.
In recent years, improved treatments, as well as enhanced early detection, have brought us closer toward turning cancer diagnoses from death sentences into treatable diseases. However, challenges persist for patients and their families. It can be challenging to determine the best course of treatment. The treatment itself can be grueling. Medical bills can pile up. For some, progress is still too slow. This includes Black men, who are disproportionately likely to develop and die from lung cancer; people living in rural communities, where mortality rates remain stubbornly high; and women under 50 years old, who are diagnosed with lung cancer at higher rates than men of the same age.
As a Nation, we must come together to change that. That is why the First Lady and I reignited the Cancer Moonshot, setting ambitious goals to cut the cancer death rate by at least half in the next 25 years and improve the experience of patients and families. As a first step, my Administration secured $2.5 billion in funding for the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA–H). The scientists, innovators, and public health professionals funded by ARPA–H are driving breakthroughs in preventing, detecting, and treating cancer and other deadly diseases. Throughout our history, the United States has led the world in scientific innovation and discovery. We will continue to do so on our way to ending cancer as we know it.
My Administration is also investing in screening and early detection—services that are critical to diagnosing lung cancer in its beginning stages and saving lives. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—along with other agencies, community health centers, and partners in the private sector—is providing early detection knowledge and support services to underserved communities. We remain committed to increasing lung cancer screening rates for those most at risk and encourage everyone to talk to their doctor about symptoms.
There are additional steps each of us can take to reduce the impact of lung cancer in our own lives. For many, that starts with quitting smoking, the number one cause of lung cancer and the single-largest driver of cancer deaths in America. This year, our White House Smoking Ces
Additionally, my Administration has taken significant steps to make cancer treatments affordable for everyone. Through the Inflation Reduction Act, out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors on Medicare will soon be capped at $2,000 per year—including expensive cancer drugs that sometimes cost several times that. We strengthened Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA), expanding health care coverage for millions of Americans and helping nearly 15 million people save an average of $800 per year on health insurance premiums. I remain committed to maintaining the accessibility of cancer care secured in the ACA, including requiring insurers to pay for cancer screenings and primary care visits and covering cancer survivors and others who have preexisting conditions. I signed the PACT Act into law—one of the most significant laws ever to help veterans exposed to toxic materials, some of whom develop lung cancer and other diseases. This law expands access to benefits and services to veterans, ensuring they have access to health care, free screenings, and benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. The law also provides access to survivor benefits for families of veterans who died due to a toxic-related illness. I was also proud to sign the Federal Firefighters Fairness Act, giving more than 10,000 firefighters and their families critical workers’ compensation and other benefits by making sure certain kinds of heart problems, lung disease, and cancers are presumed to be caused by the job.
Cancer has touched nearly every family in America—including mine. During National Lung Cancer Awareness Month, the First Lady and I have one message to the Nation: There is hope. We see it in the extraordinary courage and strength of all who are facing this deadly disease and in the families and loved ones who support them. We see it in the researchers who are chasing new breakthroughs and the health care workers who care for their patients with compassion and skill. This month and every month, we must seize the urgency of this moment to find better solutions, treatments, and cures and to unite as one Nation to end cancer as we know it.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. I call upon the people of the United States to speak with their doctors and health care providers to learn more about lung cancer. I encourage citizens, government agencies, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, the media, and other interested groups to increase awareness about what Americans can do to prevent, detect, and treat lung cancer.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
During National Native American Heritage Month, we recognize the invaluable contributions of Native peoples that have shaped our country and honor the hundreds of Tribal Nations who continue exercising their inherent sovereignty as vital members of the overlapping system of governments in the United States. We also recommit to supporting Tribal sovereignty; upholding the Federal Government’s solemn trust and treaty responsibilities; and working in partnership with Tribal Nations to advance prosperity, dignity, and safety for all Native peoples.
Since time immemorial, Native communities have passed down rich cultures, knowledge, traditions, and ways of life. But throughout our history, Native peoples’ cultures, identities, and governments were not always seen as a part of this Nation but as a threat to it. Native people were pressured to assimilate, banned from practicing their traditions and sacred ceremonies, and forced from their homes and ancestral homelands. This violence and devastation cost countless lives, tore families apart, and caused lasting damage to Tribal communities and institutions.
Despite centuries of violence and oppression, Native peoples remain resilient and proud. Today, Native Americans are essential to the fabric of the United States. They serve in the United States Armed Forces at higher rates than any other ethnic group. They continue to steward so many of our great lands. Their contributions to science, humanities, arts, public service, and more have brought prosperity for all of us. Their diverse cultures and communities continue to thrive and lead us forward.
Since the beginning of my Administration, I have been determined to help champion a new and better chapter in the story of our Nation-to-Nation relationships. I started by appointing Native Americans to lead in my Administration—including the first Native American Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, dozens of Senate-confirmed Native American officials, and over 80 Native American appointees serving across my Administration and in the Federal courts. I restored the annual White House Tribal Nations Summit to advance communication between key members of my Administration and the leaders of hundreds of Tribal Nations. My Administration formally recognized Indigenous Knowledge as one of the many important bodies of knowledge that contributes to the scientific, technical, social, and economic advancements of the United States and our collective understanding of the natural world.
Together with leadership from Tribal Nations, we are making historic investments in Indian Country. Our American Rescue Plan invested
My Administration is also working to address the impacts of harmful Federal policies of the past while ensuring Native communities are safe and healthy. Through the Department of the Interior’s Road to Healing initiative, Native language preservation, public safety initiatives, and bold new investments, we are supporting Native American families and their communities as they heal. We are also working to improve public health and safety for Native Americans. I signed an Executive Order that helps us respond more effectively to the epidemic of missing and murdered Indigenous peoples. Last year, when we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, I was proud to include historic provisions that reaffirm Tribal sovereignty and restore Tribal jurisdiction. My budget for Fiscal Year 2024 also requested a $9.1 billion infusion for the Indian Health Service, and I have asked the Congress to make that funding a mandatory part of the Federal budget for the first time in our history.
We are also committed to partnering with Tribal Nations to protect and steward their sacred and ancestral lands and waters. Through Tribal co-stewardship agreements, we work directly with Tribal Nations to make decisions about how to manage those lands that are most precious to them—recognizing and utilizing the invaluable knowledge they have from countless generations. I established new national monuments protecting lands sacred to Tribal Nations at Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni in Arizona, the Camp Hale-Continental Divide in Colorado, and Avi Kwa Ame in Nevada. I also restored protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in New England and Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante in Utah.
This month, we celebrate Native American history and culture. We are reminded that with hard work and a commitment to our founding ideals, we can address the wrongs of our past and become a more perfect Union—one that ensures liberty, justice, dignity, and equality for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Native American Heritage Month. I urge all Americans, as well as their elected representatives at the Federal, State, and local levels, to observe this month with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. Also, I urge all Americans to celebrate November 24, 2023, as Native American Heritage Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and
The poet John Milton once wrote, “They also serve who only stand and wait.”; During National Veterans and Military Families Month, we recognize that our military and veteran families answer our Nation’s call to duty, and we recommit to doing right by their service and sacrifice.
For me, the First Lady, and the entire Biden family: It is personal. When our son Beau was deployed to Iraq, we learned what it meant to pray every day for the safe return of someone you love. Our grandkids learned what it meant to have their dad overseas in a warzone instead of at home, tucking them into bed and reading them a story every night. Millions of Americans have had that experience. To all the mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, sons and daughters, spouses and partners, and loved ones who stand alongside our veterans and service members: You are the solid steel spine that bears up under every burden and the courageous heart that rises to every challenge.
Our Nation has only one truly sacred obligation—to prepare those we send into harm’s way and care for them and their families while they are deployed and when they return home. Since the beginning of my Administration, fulfilling that obligation has been my top priority. In June, I signed an Executive Order that establishes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our Nation’s history to support the economic security of military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors. It encourages all Federal agencies to do more to retain military spouses through flexible policies, improves the ability for spouses to maintain their employment when moving overseas, allows spouses to seek advice on overseas employment issues through military legal assistance offices for the first time, and improves spouses’ access to quality, dependable, and affordable child care.
Since the beginning of my Administration, I have signed more than 30 bipartisan bills to expand the services and benefits that support our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors—including the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxin exposed veterans and survivors in over 30 years. We released a national strategy to reduce military and veteran suicide by tackling some of the root causes of this crisis—like addressing financial insecurity by expanding job training opportunities for transitioning service members and veterans and their spouses and increasing funding to prevent and eliminate homelessness. Further, I signed an Executive Order that implemented historic, bipartisan mili
Our fighting force is the greatest in the world—in no small part because, year after year and decade after decade, military and veteran families have had their loved ones’ backs. As a country, we owe it to these families to have their backs. This year—as we celebrate 50 years of an all-volunteer force—may we also recognize the bravery and dedication of our military and veteran families and work to repay the debt of gratitude we owe each one of them.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 2023 as National Veterans and Military Families Month. I call upon the people of the United States to honor veterans and military families with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirty-first day of October, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
This Veterans Day, we honor the generations of women and men who have served and sacrificed—not for a person, a place, or a President—but for an idea unlike any other: the idea of the United States of America. For nearly 250 years, our veterans have defended the values that make us strong so that our Nation could stand as a citadel of liberty, a beacon of freedom, and a wellspring of possibilities.
Today, I am thinking of all our Nation’s veterans, who put their lives on the line to protect our democracy, values, and freedom around the world. We honor our wounded warriors, so many of whom the First Lady and I have met over the years, who are bound by a common sense of duty, courage, and optimism, and we remember those who are still missing in action or prisoners of war and renew my pledge to bring them home. Our military families, caregivers, and survivors also answer the call to serve. I remember so clearly the pride I felt in our son Beau during his service in Iraq as well as those mornings I saw
As a Nation, we have many obligations, but we only have one truly sacred obligation: to prepare and equip the brave women and men we send into harm’s way and to care for them and their loved ones when they return home. Since the beginning of my Administration, we have worked to make good on that promise, passing nearly 30 bipartisan laws to support our veterans and service members and their families, caregivers, and survivors. That includes the PACT Act—the most significant effort in our Nation’s history to help millions of veterans exposed to toxic substances during their military service. Since I signed the PACT Act into law last year, more than 478,000 veterans and survivors are already receiving benefits—ensuring that veterans exposed to burn pits and other harmful substances and their loved ones get access to the care and support they need.
My Administration is also committed to ending veteran suicide and homelessness and ensuring that our veterans have the resources they need to live full lives and thrive in their communities. We released a national strategy to reduce military and veteran suicide by improving lethal means safety and enhancing crisis care as well as by addressing the economic, legal, and mental health issues that impact veterans. The Department of Veterans Affairs is also funding community-led suicide prevention programs, which help connect veterans and their families to needed services. Every veteran deserves a roof over their head, which is why we have taken bold actions to end veteran homelessness, permanently housing more than 40,000 veterans last year and investing $1 billion to provide supportive services to help homeless and at-risk veterans and their families. My Budget also proposes tripling the number of rental-assistance vouchers for extremely low-income veterans to prevent homelessness. Further, we have taken steps to improve the economic security of veterans and their families by expanding job training programs for transitioning veterans and their spouses and issuing rules to protect them from predatory educational institutions. We are also working to ensure every veteran has access to the benefits and services they have earned.
Earlier this year, I signed an Executive Order directing more than 50 actions to improve access to child care and long-term care for Americans, including military and veteran families, and to support family caregivers, especially those who care for our veterans. Recognizing the talents and contributions of veteran and military spouses, caregivers, and survivors to our workforce, I signed an Executive Order establishing the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our Nation’s history to support their economic security—increasing training and employment opportunities for military spouses in the workforce throughout the transition to veteran spouses status and encouraging all Federal agencies to do more to retain military and veteran spouses through flexible policies. The First Lady’s Joining Forces initiative is further supporting military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors by improving economic opportunities and expanding resources to promote health and well-being for this community.
As we mark the 50th anniversary of an all-volunteer force and the 75th anniversary of the full integration of women in the Armed Forces and the desegregation of the troops, my Administration reaffirms our com
This Veterans Day, may we honor the incredible faith that our veterans hold, not just in our country but in all of us. They are the solid-steel backbone of our Nation, and we must endeavor to continue being worthy of their sacrifices by working toward a more perfect Union and protecting the freedoms that they have fought to defend.
In respect and recognition of the contributions our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2023, as Veterans Day. I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and by observing two minutes of silence for our Nation’s veterans. I also call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States of America and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On World Freedom Day, we remember that the hammer blow that brought down the Berlin Wall and the might that lifted the Iron Curtain were not sparked by the words of any single leader—it was the people of Europe who spent decades fighting to free themselves and defend democracy. Together, we recommit ourselves to this cause—knowing that the darkness that drives autocracy is no match for the flame of liberty that lights the souls of free people everywhere.
Around the globe, we are seeing a revival of the forces of autocracy, which are once again demonstrating contempt for the rule of law,
That is exactly what the United States is doing. Together with our partners and allies, the United States will continue to defend the fundamental freedoms and human rights entitled to every person around the world. We will continue working toward a future where women and girls can enjoy equal rights and equal participation in their societies; where Indigenous groups, people with disabilities, and racial, ethnic, and religious minorities do not have their potential stifled by systemic discrimination; and where LGBTQI+ people are not persecuted or targeted with violence because of who they are. We will continue to stand with people around the world striving for a brighter future in the face of autocratic attempts to forge a darker path. As we support democracy abroad, we are mindful that our own democracy is still at risk. My Administration is working tirelessly to show that democracies can deliver on the challenges that matter most in peoples’ lives, and I call on the American people to remain vigilant in the defense of our democratic values and institutions.
As we honor the hope felt around the world 34 years ago today when Berliners finally crossed from East to West and ushered in a new future, we remember that when we choose to stand together and recognize the common hopes that bind all humanity, we hold in our hands the power to bend the arc of history. Together, may we continue to live up to the promises we have made to ourselves, to the vulnerable, and to all those who will inherit the world we create. May we work side-by-side to bend the arc of history for the good of the world.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 9, 2023, as World Freedom Day. I call upon the people of the United States of America to remember the hope symbolized by the fall of the Berlin Wall and reaffirm our dedication to freedom and democracy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
The promise of America has always been tied to the promise of our public education. This American Education Week, we celebrate our schools as beacons of hope and possibility, pillars of our communities, and cornerstones of our democracy. We recommit to investing in all
A great education opens doors and changes lives. From our astronauts, artists, scientists, and software developers to our engineers, entrepreneurs, manufacturers, and medical professionals, countless Americans first discovered their potential in our public schools. Many further honed their talents in our universities, community colleges, Registered Apprenticeship programs, and career and technical education programs. That is what makes our Nation one of possibilities: Here in the United States everyone has the chance to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams, no matter who they are or where they grew up. But there is more we can still do to ensure every child has a fair shot. Despite heroic efforts by our Nation’s teachers, the pandemic further deepened existing achievement gaps after years of flat or declining achievement in math and reading nationwide.
That is why my Administration has secured a historic $130 billion for America’s K–12 schools. This funding has put more teachers in our classrooms and more counselors, social workers, and other staff in our schools. Additionally, this funding is providing high-quality tutoring, supporting record expansions of summer and after-school programming, improving air quality in schools, addressing environmental and safety needs in aging school buildings, and creating other critical initiatives designed to support our students. We also recognize that our students cannot thrive at school unless they are healthy and safe. The American Rescue Plan also made our country’s biggest-ever investment in mental health and substance use programs, supplying the resources to recruit, train, and support more providers at the State and local levels—including in our schools. I also signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law—the first major Federal gun safety legislation passed in nearly 30 years, getting us closer to a world where every school in America is free from the threat of gun violence. This legislation also included historic levels of funding to address youth mental health, including $2 billion to create safe, inclusive learning environments for students and hire and train more mental health professionals for schools, which is where students are most likely to receive these crucial services. My Administration also released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases in America by 2030—including by advancing a pathway to provide free, healthy school meals for all children.
We are fighting for our youngest learners too. We know that if we start early in both reading and math and make kindergarten a sturdy bridge between the early years and early grades, we set the stage for their lasting academic success. In fact, providing America’s children with a strong foundation during their first 5 years can form the basis for lifelong health and well-being as well as achievement in education and their future careers. I will continue to press for high-quality, free preschool for all three- and four-year-olds.
My Administration also secured nearly $40 billion for colleges and universities in the American Rescue Plan. Importantly, we have invested billions of dollars in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal Colleges and Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions, such as Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institutions. I have made it a priority to make college more affordable for Americans, and have
While we are making historic investments in colleges and universities, we also believe that every person in our Nation deserves access to the American Dream, whether they have a college degree or not. That is why we have invested more in Registered Apprenticeships and technical career training programs than any administration in history. These programs empower workers to earn while they learn and offer them a path toward good-paying jobs. In addition, the Departments of Education and Labor are collaborating to expand Registered Apprenticeships for educators. To help raise a new generation of talented educators from underrepresented backgrounds, we are working to increase high-quality teacher preparation programs and strengthen and diversify the teacher pipeline.
During American Education Week, we recognize the critical role education plays in realizing the defining creed of our Nation—that we are a land of possibilities. We celebrate all the dedicated educators, school counselors, nurses, bus drivers, security guards, custodians, cafeteria workers, and other school staff, who keep our schools running and support our students’ health, safety, and success. Together, we will ensure that every student has the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 12 through November 18, 2023, as American Education Week. I call upon all Americans to mark this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities honoring those who devote their talents and energies to helping our children reach their full potential and to building school communities where all students feel they belong.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
I have always believed that the middle class built America and unions built the middle class, and Registered Apprenticeship programs across our country have produced some of the best-trained workers in the world. During National Apprenticeship Week, we recommit to supporting Registered Apprenticeship programs, which offer America’s workers direct pathways to good-paying jobs with dignity and respect.
I ran for office to build an economy from the middle out and bottom up—one in which every American willing to work hard can get a job wherever they call home. Registered Apprenticeships make that possible for so many by honing their skills, paying them while they learn, and putting them on a path to get a good-paying job. Apprenticeships not only strengthen our workforce today, they give workers the skills needed for industries of the future—whether it is modernizing our infrastructure and building clean energy technologies or addressing cybersecurity threats.
That is why we have invested more in Registered Apprenticeships and career technology education programs than any previous administration in American history. Our American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have invested billions of dollars in workforce training for good jobs, including significant investments to help States, employers, labor organizations, educational institutions, and workforce intermediaries develop and expand Registered Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs. My Administration’s efforts have already helped develop over 4,000 new Registered Apprenticeship programs and led to the hiring of more than one million new apprentices. Through enhanced tax credits our Inflation Reduction Act provides strong incentives for employers to connect Registered Apprentices with clean energy projects that are essential in our work to build a clean energy future in America.
Last year, my Administration launched programs designed to strengthen and diversify Registered Apprenticeships across industries. Our Apprenticeship Ambassador Initiative assembles a national network of more than 200 organizations committed to increasing the number of apprentices across many industries while recruiting people from historically underrepresented communities to join the American workforce and participate in industries of the future. These organizations have already committed to hiring over 10,000 new apprentices. This initiative includes creating clean energy apprenticeships and jobs in communities that have suffered legacy pollution. Additionally, these Registered Apprenticeships help employers build a more diverse workforce while empowering workers with the resources they need to thrive, including on-the-job learning experience, job-related instruction with a mentor, and a clear pathway to a good-paying job. Through the Department of Labor’s Women in Apprenticeship and Nontraditional Occupations grant program, my Administration is also continuing to invest in training women to enter the skilled trades and other occupations where they have long been underrepresented.
In addition, we are working within industries to address workforce needs in critical sectors. Through my Administration’s Advanced Manufacturing Sprint and Workforce Hubs Initiative, we are working to secure private-sector, union, State, and local commitments to expand pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs. The Department of Education and the Department of Labor have helped expand K–12 teacher Registered Apprenticeship programs to 27 States with over 1,500 teacher apprentices to ensure our schools have enough educators to teach the next generation of leaders. Through the Department of Labor’s Scaling Apprenticeship Readiness Across the Building Trades Initiative, we are enrolling at least 7,000 people in construction industry apprenticeships to build roads, bridges, and highways, so that America can have the best infrastructure in the world once again. Our 90-day Trucking Apprenticeship Challenge has helped get more truck drivers on the road, keeping our supply chains moving. And our 120-day Cybersecurity Apprenticeship Sprint has resulted in thousands of apprentices getting hired, who will learn the skills needed to protect our personal information and national interests from cyberthreats.
I have often said that America can be defined in one word: possibilities. That is what Registered Apprenticeships are all about—giving workers the skills and opportunity to support their families while building the industries of the future. During National Apprenticeship Week, we celebrate the apprentices across our country who lift our workforce to new heights and the apprenticeship programs that make their success possible. We recommit to doing what has always worked best for our Nation: investing in America and American workers.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 12 through November 18, 2023, as National Apprenticeship Week. I urge the Congress, State and local governments, educational institutions, industry and labor leaders, apprentices, and all Americans to support Registered Apprenticeship programs in the United States of America and to raise awareness of their importance in building a diverse and robust workforce to strengthen our national economy.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On America Recycles Day, we recognize the critical role recycling plays in caring for our environment and addressing the existential threat of climate change. We honor the people, communities, and organizations that are working every day to recycle and responsibly stew
Over a third of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions—and many of the toxins and pollutants that harm public health—come from the production and processing of materials that people use every day. That is why recycling and reducing waste as much as possible is so important. By recycling, we send less waste to landfills and reduce the need for raw materials, thereby saving energy and conserving valuable natural resources. Still, our country faces too many barriers to recycling. Some Americans are unsure about which materials can be recycled, and municipalities struggle to establish connections with markets that can use their recycled materials. Many people, especially people of color and low-income Americans, have suffered disproportionately from the damaging effects of pollution, including landfilled, dumped, or incinerated waste.
To improve the way our Nation recycles, my Administration made the largest investment in recycling in nearly three decades through our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These funds have helped launch dozens of new initiatives, including projects to improve waste management, reduce harm in communities that have long faced environmental injustice, and increase public awareness and education about recycling. We also released a National Recycling Strategy to highlight the ways government, industry, and other entities can utilize our recycling and waste management systems—including best practices for collecting recyclable products, reaching markets for these materials, and funding the latest recycling technologies that will protect public health and the environment. In pursuit of our goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, I signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which made the largest investment in climate action in history.
There is still more we can do to improve recycling practices across the country. I call upon manufacturers and businesses to offer more sustainable products, to reuse materials and reduce the use of raw materials, to adopt effective recycling practices, and to design and build durable projects that are fully recyclable. I also call upon all Americans to learn what is recyclable in their cities and towns, sort waste into the appropriate bins, embrace reusable containers, engage in food composting, and reduce the use of non-recyclable materials, such as many single-use plastics. Everyone has a role to play, and by working together to recycle, we can improve the health of our environment and our world for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 15, 2023, as America Recycles Day. I call upon the people of the United States of America to observe this day with appropriate programs and activities, and I encourage all Americans to continue their environmental efforts by recycling throughout the year.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three,
America’s rural communities are indispensable to who we are as a Nation, where over 60 million people who live in rural America fuel our economy and help forge our future. On National Rural Health Day, we recommit to investing in rural communities and delivering affordable, quality health care so that generations of rural Americans can thrive.
No one should have to lie awake at night wondering if they can afford or access health care for their family, but that is the reality for so many in rural America. Rural Americans are more likely to live in poverty, be older, and have disabilities while also having fewer health care providers within reach. We know that when rural Americans do not have the chance to thrive in their local economy, they leave home in search of opportunity elsewhere. When they do, small businesses, schools, and rural hospitals suffer, and the services and support systems people need to succeed disappear. Since 2010, over 150 rural hospitals have either closed down or stopped providing in-patient care, damaging rural economies where hospitals are often one of the largest employers and leaving families scrambling for health care.
When I came into office, I was committed to investing in rural America, starting with the health and well-being of its residents. Our American Rescue Plan directed $8.5 billion to rural providers so they could keep hospitals and clinics open during the pandemic. We also supported the establishment of a new Rural Emergency Hospital designation, which provides struggling rural hospitals with a new option for maintaining a presence within the community. We have provided $1.5 billion in scholarships and student loan assistance for rural clinicians and nurses so that medical personnel can fill these critical roles.
My Administration has also worked to modernize and support rural health care facilities by providing millions of dollars to provide direct health services, expand infrastructure, and supply technical assistance to rural hospitals facing financial distress. Further, we have made historic investments in the expansion of rural broadband and services that can be delivered via telehealth to Medicare beneficiaries.
We are also tackling some of the health crises that impact rural communities by working to improve maternal health, address the mental health crisis, and beat the opioid epidemic. My Administration’s Blueprint for Addressing the Maternal Health Crisis lays out our vision for making America the best country in the world to have a baby. Expanding mental health and substance use disorder services remains a core pillar of my Unity Agenda. That is why we are recruiting, training, and supporting more providers across the country as part of the largest-ever investment in these types of programs.
Additionally, we are investing in the next generation of rural Americans, fighting for a future where all children have the resources they need to live full and healthy lives. That is why my Administration released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases in America by 2030—including advancing a pathway to provide free, healthy school meals for all children. We are also working to support schools in sourcing more local food for on-campus meals, bringing new revenue to farms and increased economic development in rural communities.
At the same time, we are lowering health care costs for every American, no matter their zip code. We expanded health care coverage through the Affordable Care Act, saving millions of families up to $800 a year on their health care premiums. I also signed the Inflation Reduction Act, which capped the cost of insulin at $35 per month for people with Medicare. The Inflation Reduction Act also empowered Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for the first time in American history. The first ten drugs Medicare selected for negotiation treat everything from blood clots to cancer and are used by nine million people. Building on this progress, we are also requiring prescription drug companies to reimburse Medicare if they raise prices for seniors at a higher rate than inflation, which will save some seniors as much as $618 on every dose of their medication.
Finally, my Administration is implementing historic legislation that will help rural Americans find more opportunities in their hometowns. Through my Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, rural Americans are being hired to rebuild safer bridges, roads, and highways in their own communities and to bring clean water, clean energy, and high-speed internet to their neighbors. Companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars to create thousands of jobs across America—including rural America—and are manufacturing more products in rural communities.
I have often said that health care is a right, not a privilege. On National Rural Health Day, we recommit to this principle and to putting affordable, quality health care within reach of all rural Americans.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 16, 2023, as National Rural Health Day. I call upon the people of the United States to reaffirm our dedication to the health and well-being of rural America.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
My father always said that family is the beginning, the middle, and the end. Family is everything. During National Family Week, we celebrate the love, support, and resilience of the tens of millions of American families that make our Nation strong and keep the American Dream alive.
For too long, too many families in this country have lived with the prospect of an uncertain future. Too many parents have lain awake at night staring at the ceiling, wondering how they will make rent, send their kids to college, retire, or pay for medication. Too many have had to move far away from their hometowns to earn a living. I ran for President to change all that—to finally rebuild a strong middle class and grow our economy from the middle out and bottom up, giving hardworking families across the country a little more breathing room.
The historic legislation that we have since enacted is delivering, investing in American families and in America’s future. The American Rescue Plan kept millions of families in their homes, food on the table, and folks on the job through the pandemic. Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, over 40,000 projects are currently underway to rebuild our Nation’s roads, bridges, and ports, expand access to clean drinking water, and connect every home to high-speed internet. We are also working to revitalize American manufacturing—we have helped create nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs, and through the CHIPS and Science Act, we are making historic investments across the country. The Inflation Reduction Act has made health care coverage cheaper for nearly 15 million Americans—it is set to cap out-of-pocket prescription drug costs for seniors on Medicare at $2,000 per year, and it has already slashed their insulin costs to $35 per month from as much as $400, helping families pay their monthly bills. Through the PACT Act, we are helping veterans who were exposed to toxic materials while serving get the health care and benefits that they and their families deserve. I am fighting hard to protect children and families from the scourge of gun violence—last year, I signed our Nation’s most significant gun safety law in nearly 30 years, strengthening background checks, increasing the effective use of red flag laws, and expanding access to mental health services. I am fighting to ensure that all families have equal rights and dignity. That is why I was so proud to sign the Respect for Marriage Act into law, protecting the right to marriage for same-sex and interracial couples. I also signed an Executive Order that calls for the most comprehensive set of executive actions of any administration in history to increase high-quality child care, long-term care, and support for caregivers, ensuring that families have access to the support they need.
We have more to do to keep building on all of this progress, to make sure that every family in America has an equal shot at a better life of dignity and respect. During National Family Week, we celebrate the importance of spending time with loved ones, both the families that we are born into and the families that we create throughout our lives.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 19 through November 25, 2023, as National Family Week. I invite States, communities, and individuals to join together in observing this week with appropriate ceremonies and activities to honor our Nation’s families.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Our Nation’s children are the kite strings that keep our national ambitions aloft—they are the dreamers and doers, who will determine the course of our future. From an early age, young people lead the way by volunteering in their communities, modeling compassion and tolerance, and pushing us to address the critical issues of our time like climate change and gun violence. This generation of young people is the most gifted, tolerant, talented, and educated in American history. They are the reason I am so optimistic about the future. On National Child’s Day, we recommit to ensuring that every child has the resources and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
That is why my Administration has invested billions of dollars in America’s schools. These funds are putting more teachers in our classrooms, supporting tutoring programs, financing building renovations, replacing lead pipes, and more. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is expanding access to reliable high-speed internet so every student can log on at any time, regardless of their zip code.
We are also prioritizing the health and safety of our children. By expanding the Child Tax Credit, my Administration cut the child poverty rate nearly in half, and I continue to call on the Congress to reinstate this expansion because no child should grow up in poverty. We are also working to lower the cost of health care and expand access to affordable, nutritious meals for millions of families. My Administration released a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related diseases in America by 2030—including advancing a pathway to provide free, healthy school meals for all children. New vaccines are rolling out that protect children against COVID–19, RSV, and the flu, which you can learn more about at www.vaccines.gov. We are also supporting LGBTQI+ children and families by safeguarding access to health care and preventing harmful so-called “conversion therapy.”; Further, we are working with State child welfare agencies to make sure LGBTQI+
Mental health is just as important as physical health, which is why I am addressing the youth mental health crisis head-on. My Administration has advanced measures to increase the number of school psychologists and counselors available to our kids and to make it easier for schools to use Medicaid to deliver mental health care, including services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. We also proposed a rule that would require insurers to finally cover mental health care just as they do physical care. Further, we must do more to make the internet a safe place for children. I have called on the Congress to limit the personal data that tech companies collect, ban targeted advertising directed at minors, and strengthen protections that safeguard children’s health and safety online.
Finally, all this progress means little if our children do not inherit a healthy planet. That is why I fought so hard to pass the Inflation Reduction Act, a landmark bill that contains the largest investment to tackle climate change in history. The Act will help our children breathe cleaner air and drink cleaner water. It is also creating the jobs of the future so our kids can graduate into a strong clean energy economy.
Every child deserves the opportunity to thrive because when they dream big, our whole Nation is opened to new possibilities. The children of today are the global leaders of tomorrow. That is why this National Child’s Day, we recommit to fulfilling the promise of America for every child and building a future worthy of their dreams.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim November 20, 2023, as National Child’s Day. I call upon all government officials, educators, volunteers, and all the people of the United States of America to observe this day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Throughout her life as First Lady of Georgia and First Lady of the United States, Rosalynn Carter exemplified hope, warmth, and a stead
As a mark of respect for the memory of Rosalynn Carter, by the authority vested in me as President of the United States by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby order that the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions from November 25, 2023, until sunset, on the day of interment. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same length of time at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-first day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
As families, loved ones, and friends across the country come together to celebrate Thanksgiving, let us be grateful for all the blessings of this Nation and its limitless possibilities.
Throughout our country’s history, this season of reflection and giving thanks comes in good times and tough ones. Before there was a United States of America, the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving in honor of their first successful harvest and the support and generosity of the Wampanoag people who made it possible. Amid the fierce battle for our Nation’s independence, General George Washington and his troops celebrated Thanksgiving on the way to Valley Forge. During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday to honor the blessings of our country, even as he fought to preserve our Union.
This week, Americans will gather with their loved ones and families, celebrating the love they share and the traditions they built together. To those who are also enduring hard times or grieving the loss of a loved one, know that we are thinking of you.
We are truly a good Nation because we are a good people—the First Lady and I see it every time we travel the country because we meet so many incredible people doing the most extraordinary things. We have met with service members, veterans, and their families, who have selflessly served and sacrificed for our country. We have witnessed the resolve of firefighters, police officers, and first responders, who risk their lives every day to protect us. We have seen the best of our character in the doctors, nurses, scientists, public servants, union workers, and teachers, who ensure everyone is taken care of and no one is left behind. We have seen all the possibilities this Nation holds in the mothers, fathers, and caregivers, who work hard to build a future worthy of their children’s greatest dreams, and in young people across the country, who are the most talented, engaged, and educated generation in history.
This Thanksgiving we are grateful for our Nation and the incredible soul of America. May we all remember that we are the United States of America—there is nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2023, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage the people of the United States of America to join together and give thanks for the friends, neighbors, family members, and strangers who have supported each other over the past year in a reflection of goodwill and unity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
This holiday season, too many American families will have an empty seat at their table after losing a loved one in a drunk or drug-impaired driving accident. More than 10,000 Americans die every year in these preventable crashes. During National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, we call on everyone to help save a life by planning ahead, calling for a ride, only driving when sober, and helping friends and loved ones do the same every time.
Nearly a third of deadly car wrecks in America involve alcohol, and some 26 million people drove under the influence in 2020, endangering themselves, passengers and passersby, and the law enforcement officers who work to keep our roads safe. Just one drink or pill can destroy a cascade of lives.
The best way to reduce the deadly cost of impaired driving is prevention, which starts by raising awareness of its risks and consequences and by working to treat substance misuse in the first place. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has invested in media campaigns like “If You Feel Different, You Drive Different”;; “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over”;; and “Drive High, Get a DUI,”; but it is on all of us to help spread the word, offer to be a designated driver for others when we can, and call a ride or ask for help when we need it. Meanwhile, for Fiscal Year 2024, my Administration asked the Congress for $26 billion more to fund prevention, treatment, and recovery support services for substance misuse and $20 billion to reduce the supply of illicit substances entering our country to help keep communities safe. Since taking office, my Administration has committed to provide over $169 billion in drug control funding to end the overdose crisis.
My Administration is advancing new tools that can help prevent driving under the influence and improve road safety. Our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law invests in technologies that can detect and prevent impaired driving, and it requires all new passenger cars to include features like collision warnings and automatic emergency braking, which can help to avoid accidents. The Department of Transportation’s National Roadway Safety Strategy works to eliminate traffic deaths and make crashes less destructive. For example, their Safe Streets and Roads for All program offers more than $800 million in grants to help cities, counties, Tribes, and other organizations plan and implement measures improve the safety of our Nation’s roadways.
As we head into the holiday seasons, we urge Americans everywhere to do the right thing. If you plan on drinking, arrange a sober ride home in advance; ride-sharing apps have made getting home safely easier than ever. If you have used any substance, never get behind the wheel. If you see someone—a friend, loved one, colleague, or anyone else—putting themselves or others at risk, offer to help. It matters. You could save a life.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 2023 as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. I urge all Americans to make responsible decisions and take appropriate measures to prevent impaired driving.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On World AIDS Day, my message is simple: Let us finish the fight.
Since recognizing the first World AIDS Day 35 years ago, we have made enormous progress in preventing, detecting, and treating HIV—greatly reducing annual HIV diagnoses and transmission. But despite these advancements, about 39 million people continue to live with HIV, including more than one million people in the United States. Far too often, people living with HIV face discrimination that prevents them from accessing the care they need. So, as we reflect on our progress today, we must also come together to renew our promise to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
At home, my Administration has taken historic steps to achieve this goal. During my first year in office, I reestablished the White House Office of National AIDS Policy and launched a new National HIV/AIDS Strategy—a roadmap for using innovative community-driven solutions to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States by 2030. This year, my Administration also ended the disgraceful practice of banning gay and bisexual men from donating blood. We continue to work with State and community leaders to repeal or reform so-called HIV criminalization laws, which wrongly punish people for exposing others to HIV. I have asked the Congress for $850 million for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Ending the HIV Epidemic Initiative to aggressively reduce new HIV cases, fight the stigma that stops many people from getting care, and increase access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)—a critical drug that can help prevent the spread of HIV.
We are also focused on ending HIV/AIDS as a public health threat worldwide by 2030 under the bipartisan President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). PEPFAR has reduced transmissions, expanded testing, and saved more than 25 million lives in over 50 partner countries over the last two decades. Further, PEPFAR is focusing on forging a future where every HIV infection is prevented, every person has access to treatment, and every generation can live free from the stigma that too often surrounds HIV. My Administration is committed to working with the Congress to pass a clean PEPFAR reauthorization bill to extend this lifesaving bipartisan program for 5 years and end HIV/AIDS by 2030.
We are within striking distance of eliminating HIV-transmission. We have the science. We have the treatments. Most of all, we have each other. On this 35th World AIDS Day—let us honor all the families who have lost a loved one to this disease and all the people currently living with HIV/AIDS. Let us remember the activists, scientists, doctors, and caregivers who have never given up in the fight against the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Let us recommit to finishing this fight—together.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 1, 2023, as World AIDS Day. I urge the Governors of the United
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirtieth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we recommit to building a world where disabled people everywhere are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve and are afforded an equal shot at achieving their dreams.
Many Americans can still recall when—just over three decades ago—a person could legally be denied service in a restaurant and employers could refuse to hire them on the basis of their disability. Since the beginning of my career, I have worked hard to change that. One of my earliest acts as a United States Senator was co-sponsoring the Rehabilitation Act, which banned discrimination on the basis of disability by any entity funded by the Federal Government. Years later, I was proud to co-sponsor the Americans with Disabilities Act—a landmark piece of legislation that banned discrimination against disabled people in workplaces, schools, public transit, and more.
In the years since, over 180 nations around the world have passed similar laws, delivering justice to millions of people with disabilities worldwide. But there is still more to do at home and abroad to ensure they have equal opportunities. Too often, disabled Americans are unable to vote, get to and from school, and enjoy public spaces, and are paid less for doing the same work. Around the world, disabled people continue to face discrimination, harassment, exploitation, abuse, and violence, which inhibits their full participation in society.
That is why my Administration has worked to ensure that the dignity and rights of disabled Americans are lifted in every policy we pursue. Through my American Rescue Plan, we have taken action to improve access to health care for disabled Americans, including providing billions of dollars to all 50 States to expand home- and community-based services under Medicaid so that more people with disabilities can live independently at home. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we have invested billions of dollars more in building a country that works for everyone—from repairing and improving accessibility in airports and transit stations to expanding access to high-speed internet so more disabled Americans can work, study, and stay connected from home. Additionally, the Department of Justice proposed standards for State
My Administration is also working to uphold the dignity and freedom of disabled people worldwide. For example, I released the first-ever memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally, which directed departments and agencies to account for the particular needs of persons with disabilities in promoting labor rights. At the United Nations General Assembly in September, I met with leaders from Central Asia at the first-ever C5+1 Presidential Summit and launched a joint disability rights initiative aimed at integrating disability rights, promoting inclusive education, and increasing infrastructure accessibility. At the Department of State, I reestablished the role of Special Advisor on International Disability Rights so that the needs of disabled people are consistently represented in foreign policy. Through our participation as a co-chair of the Global Action on Disability Network and a participant in the Global Disability Summit, the United States continues to stand for the equal rights of people with disabilities around the world.
Today, as we celebrate the dignity, resilience, and immense contributions of disabled people everywhere, we recognize that our progress is not just about protecting disability rights—it is about promoting disability pride. For many of the over one billion disabled people around the world, disability is a source of identity and power—and it is our responsibility to ensure everyone has equal opportunities to reach their full potential.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 3, 2023, as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. I call on all Americans to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this first day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was an American icon, the first woman on our Nation’s highest court. She spent her career committed to the stable center, pragmatic and in search of common ground. Defined by her no-nonsense Arizona ranch roots, Justice O’Connor overcame discrimination early on, at a time when law firms too often told women to seek work as secretaries, not attorneys. She gave her life to public
As a mark of respect for the memory and longstanding service of Sandra Day O’Connor, retired Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, I hereby order, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, that on the day of her interment, the flag of the United States shall be flown at half-staff at the White House and upon all public buildings and grounds, at all military posts and naval stations, and on all naval vessels of the Federal Government in the District of Columbia and throughout the United States and its Territories and possessions until sunset on such day. I also direct that the flag shall be flown at half-staff for the same period at all United States embassies, legations, consular offices, and other facilities abroad, including all military facilities and naval vessels and stations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On this day 82 years ago, 2,403 service members and civilians were killed in a painful and unprovoked attack on our Armed Forces. On National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, we remember these women and men, who gave their last full measure of devotion to our Nation. We honor the brave service members who—with the horrors of Pearl Harbor weighing on their hearts and the hopes of humanity resting on their shoulders—answered the call to defend freedom against the forces of fascism during World War II.
The stories of the Greatest Generation’s ultimate courage and commitment continue to inspire an enduring sense of unity and purpose throughout our Nation. They remind us that, in the darkest of moments, we have the power to bend the arc of history toward a freer and more just future. They remind us that, from death, destruction, and division, we can build a better world—one grounded in peace and security. They remind us that the forces of tyranny and terrorism are no match for the flame of liberty that burns in the hearts of free people
Together, we must continue to answer that call. We must continue to honor our sacred obligation to care for our service members; veterans; and their families, caregivers, and survivors—including our World War II veterans, who dared all and risked all for our country. With bipartisan support in the Congress, my Administration is meeting that obligation—including now welcoming all World War II veterans to enroll in Veterans Affairs health care services, regardless of length of service or financial status.
As we honor the patriots who perished on this tragic day 82 years ago and the service members who defended democracy in the days and years that followed, let us carry forward their mission of forging a better future for humankind, one of greater dignity, opportunity, and security for all. Let us remember that we are the United States of America—and there is nothing beyond our capacity if we do it together.
The Congress, by Public Law 103–308, as amended, has designated December 7 of each year as “National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.”; Today, let us commemorate the patriots who were wounded and who perished on December 7, 1941, and continue to fulfill our sacred obligation to care for our service members; veterans; and their families, caregivers, and survivors.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 7, 2023, as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. I encourage all Americans to reflect on the courage shown by our brave service members that day and remember their sacrifices. I ask us all to give sincere thanks and appreciation to the survivors of that unthinkable day. I urge all Federal agencies, interested organizations, groups, and individuals to fly the flag of the United States at half-staff on December 7, 2023, in honor of those American patriots who died as a result of their service at Pearl Harbor.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Seventy-five years ago, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights captured a remarkable act of collective hope. Drafted by a committee representing different regions, faiths, and philosophies and adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, the rights enumerated in the declaration are universal and enduring. On Human Rights Day and during Human Rights Week, we reaffirm our commitment to upholding the equal and inalienable rights of all.
The United States was founded on an idea, at once the simplest and the most powerful idea in the history of the world: that we are all created equal and endowed with certain inalienable rights. Generations later, in the wake of World War II and the Holocaust, the United States joined countries around the world to create the United Nations and enshrine that same idea in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Today, the United States—together with our partners and allies—continues to defend fundamental freedoms and human rights wherever they are under threat. We stand with people everywhere defending their rights against the forces of autocracy—demonstrating to the world that the flame of liberty still lights the souls of free people everywhere.
This year, we also affirmed our commitment to democratic renewal globally at the second Summit for Democracy, bringing together nearly 100 government leaders and hundreds of representatives from civil society and the private sector as well as journalists, technologists, and youth leaders from around the world. The Summit galvanized progress to protect human rights, bolster democratic reforms, fight corruption, support free and independent media, advance technology that works for democracy, combat the misuse of technology, and defend free and fair elections and political processes.
I have often said that one of America’s greatest strengths is that we lead not by the example of our power but by the power of our example. We are strongest in the world when we live by our values at home, and we must never cease working to uphold the dignity and protect the rights of every person in this country and promote protection of those same rights globally. That is why my Administration has established the White House Gender Policy Council, which works to ensure women and girls enjoy equal rights and equal participation in society by advancing the women, peace and security agenda, preventing and responding to gender-based violence, and more. We have worked to strengthen civil rights for LGBTQI+ people at home and around the world and to protect same-sex marriage. We have led an intensive effort to counter the proliferation and misuse of commercial spyware that has enabled human rights abuses around the world. We are working to address systemic racism, advance racial equity, bolster support for underserved communities throughout the Federal Government, address inequities in our law enforcement and criminal justice systems, and expand accessibility for people with disabilities. As we look at today’s global challenges online and offline, from conflict, democratic backsliding, and global pandemics to misinformation, the misuse of technology, the climate crisis, and food insecurity, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a bedrock upon which we must tackle these issues and promote the full enjoyment of all human rights.
Today, as we celebrate Human Rights Day, the start of Human Rights Week, and the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, may we all recommit to securing the equal rights of every member of the human family and working together for the advancement of all humankind. Together, we can—and we will—bend the arc of history toward a freer and more just world for all.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 10, 2023, as Human Rights Day and the week beginning December
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On June 3, 2021, through National Security Study Memorandum 1 (NSSM–1), I established the fight against global corruption as a core national security interest, stating that corruption threatens United States national security, economic equity, global anti-poverty and development efforts, and democracy itself. By effectively preventing and countering corruption and demonstrating the advantages of transparent and accountable governance, we can secure a critical advantage for the United States and other democracies.
On December 6, 2021, pursuant to NSSM–1, my Administration issued the first United States Strategy on Countering Corruption (Strategy), which recognizes the strategic impact of corruption and directs the modernization of our efforts to prevent and combat it. The Strategy also seeks to deepen global partnerships and commitment to eliminate safe havens for corrupt actors and their criminal proceeds, including in the United States.
The Strategy reflects the idea that corruption, including kleptocracy, cannot thrive without a supportive network of actors who enable and often benefit from such conduct. Activity by these “enablers”;—who are often professional service providers—often occurs through opaque legal structures and financial mechanisms. This activity can take many forms, such as supporting corrupt actors in the performance of, benefitting from, evading responsibility for, or laundering the proceeds of corruption.
Collaboration between corrupt public officials and their enablers is pernicious and facilitates the spread of corruption across borders and across sectors. The United States therefore needs to invoke all available legal, policy, diplomatic, economic, and financial tools to deter those who perpetuate corruption, whether they are public officials or private individuals. These tools include authorities to counter money laundering and terrorist financing, as well as targeted financial sanctions—such as those specified in Executive Order 13818 of December 20, 2017 (Blocking the Property of Persons Involved in Serious Human Rights Abuse or Corruption)—which can prevent the flow of corrupt proceeds through United States and international financial systems.
Other existing authorities, including Presidential Proclamation 7750 of January 12, 2004 (To Suspend Entry as Immigrants or Nonimmigrants of Persons Engaged in or Benefiting From Corruption), and the provision commonly included at section 7031(c) of the annual Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (e.g., Public Law 117–328), have allowed the United States Government to deny safe haven to certain corrupt actors by restricting their entry into the United States. However, additional authority is needed to fully address the supporting networks of enablers of corruption, including those who may seek entry into the United States.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted immigrant and nonimmigrant entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation, except as provided for in section 4 of this proclamation, would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions. I therefore hereby proclaim the following:
Section 1. Suspension and Limitation on Entry. The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of the following persons is hereby suspended:
(a) Persons who have enabled, facilitated, or otherwise been involved in significant corruption, including through the laundering of its proceeds or obstruction of judicial or investigative processes, among other acts; and
(b) The immediate family members of the persons described in subsection (a) of this section.
Sec. 2. Authority of the Secretary of State to Identify Covered Individuals. Persons covered by section 1 of this proclamation shall be identified by the Secretary of State, or the Secretary’s designee, in the Secretary’s sole discretion, pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary may establish.
Sec. 3. Implementation of Suspension and Limitation on Entry. The Secretary of State shall implement this proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement this proclamation as it applies to the entry of noncitizens pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish.
Sec. 4. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry. Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
(a) any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
(b) any individual who has been granted asylum by the United States, any refugee who has already been admitted to the United States, or any individual granted withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to affect any individual’s eligibility for asylum, refugee
(c) any person otherwise covered by section 1 of this proclamation, upon determination by the Secretary of State that the person’s entry would not be contrary to the interests of the United States, including when the Secretary of State so determines, based on a recommendation of the Attorney General, that the person’s entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives. In exercising this responsibility, the Secretary of State shall consult the Secretary of Homeland Security on matters related to admissibility or inadmissibility within the authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Sec. 5. Termination. This proclamation shall remain in effect until terminated by the President. The Secretary of State shall, as circumstances warrant, recommend whether the President should continue, modify, or terminate this proclamation.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to derogate from United States Government obligations under applicable international agreements, or to suspend entry based solely on a noncitizen’s ideology, opinions, or beliefs. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to limit the authority of the United States to admit or to suspend the admission or entry of particular individuals into the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) or under any other provision of United States law.
(d) This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
On December 15, 1791, after years of debate and deliberation, our forebearers ratified the Bill of Rights. In doing so, they forever enshrined the fundamental rights and liberties we hold sacred as Americans and set in motion the greatest self-governance experiment in the history of the world.
The freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights—the freedoms of religion, speech, press, assembly, privacy, and more—have helped define who we are as a people and served as our Nation’s enduring North Star. The 17 additional Amendments that have been ratified since have opened the doors of opportunity wider to each new generation. But time and again we have been reminded that progress is not linear and freedom is never guaranteed; it requires constant vigilance.
The Supreme Court took away a constitutional right from the American people, denying women across the Nation the right to choose, a right that had been enshrined in a half-century of precedent. In recent years, more than 20 States have passed laws that make it harder to vote. A wave of anti-LGBTQI+ bills is threatening Americans’ freedom to live openly and authentically. As a Nation, we have a duty to oppose these regressions and defend the values represented in our founding documents.
As President, I act on that duty every day. In the wake of the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, I issued three Executive Orders to protect a woman’s ability to access comprehensive reproductive health care services. I continue to call on the Congress to restore the protections of Roe v. Wade in Federal law. Because the right to vote and have your vote counted is the threshold of democracy, I continue to urge the Congress to pass the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. These bills would restore and expand access to the ballot and prevent voter suppression. I was also proud to sign the Electoral Count Reform Act, helping preserve the will of the people and protect the peaceful transfer of power. My Administration has made strides in defending the rights and dignity of the LGBTQI+ community. On my first day in office, I signed a historic Executive Order charging the Federal Government with protecting LGBTQI+ people from discrimination. Last December, surrounded by dozens of couples who have fought for marriage equality in the courts for decades, I had the great honor of signing into law the landmark Respect for Marriage Act to protect the rights of same-sex and interracial couples.
It is worth giving our all for the rights and liberties that undergird our democracy, for they define the soul of our Nation. This cause should unite every one of us, regardless of political affiliation. In the face of threats posed to our institutions, we must remember that democracies do not have to die violently—they can die quietly, when people fail to stand up for the values and guarantees enshrined in our Nation’s Constitution. This Bill of Rights Day, let us all recommit to safeguarding the fundamental freedoms secured in those first 10 Amend
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 15, 2023, as Bill of Rights Day. I call upon the people of the United States to observe this day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
One hundred twenty years ago on the sand dunes of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, two brothers forever changed the course of history. Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved one of the most transformative technological advancements in the history of humankind: the first-ever sustained, controlled, and powered flight. This Wright Brothers Day, we honor Wilbur and Orville’s quintessentially American spirit of innovation and ingenuity, and we celebrate their enduring legacy as pioneers who took our Nation to new heights.
On December 17, 1903, after years of arduous research, meticulous designs, and dangerous trials, Wilbur and Orville launched the Wright Flyer. Twelve seconds and 120 feet later, the brothers had achieved controlled flight. Their feat propelled our Nation forward, accelerating advancements in aeronautics and bringing us closer to unlocking the full potential of humanity. Through their determination and bold vision, the Wright Brothers laid the foundations for some of the greatest technological developments on record—from breaking the sound barrier and stepping foot on the moon to flying a helicopter on Mars and launching deep-space telescopes that are answering some of the fundamental questions of the universe. The legacy of the Wright brothers lives on through the talents and spirits of today’s American dreamers and doers.
Most of all, Wilbur and Orville’s advancement led to a new American innovation: modern air travel. My Administration is committed to preserving and investing in this legacy by enhancing safety and comfort from takeoff to landing. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, we are improving airport infrastructure across the country—expanding capacity at airport terminals, increasing energy efficiency, and making air travel more accessible for people with disabilities—all while creating good jobs across our Nation.
I have often said that America can be defined in one word: possibilities. This Wright Brothers Day, let us recognize these two courageous brothers from Dayton, Ohio, for reminding us what we can accomplish when we work together to reach our loftiest dreams and tackle our greatest challenges. May we recommit to carrying forward their bold spirit of creativity and cooperation as we forge a better future for all.
The Congress, by a joint resolution approved December 17, 1963, as amended (77 Stat. 402; 36 U.S.C. 143), has designated December 17 of each year as “Wright Brothers Day”; and has authorized and requested the President to issue annually a proclamation inviting the people of the United States to observe that day with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim December 17, 2023, as Wright Brothers Day.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
In Proclamation 10467 of October 6, 2022 (Granting Pardon for the Offense of Simple Possession of Marijuana), I exercised my authority under the Constitution to pardon individuals who committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act and section 48–904.01(d)(1) of the Code of the District of Columbia (D.C. Code). As I have said before, convictions for simple possession of marijuana have imposed needless barriers to employment, housing, and educational opportunities. Through this proclamation, consistent with the grant of Proclamation 10467, I am pardoning additional individuals who may continue to experience the unnecessary collateral consequences of a conviction for simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana. Therefore, acting pursuant to the grant of authority in Article II, Section 2, of the Constitution of the United States, I, Joseph R. Biden Jr., do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all current United States citizens and lawful permanent residents who, on or before the date of this proclamation, committed or were convicted of the offense of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana, regardless of whether they have been charged with or prosecuted for these offenses on or before the date of this proclamation, in violation of:
(1) section 844 of title 21, United States Code, section 846 of title 21, United States Code, and previous provisions in the United States Code that prohibited simple possession of marijuana or attempted simple possession of marijuana;
(2) section 48–904.01(d)(1) of the D.C. Code and previous provisions in the D.C. Code that prohibited simple possession of marijuana;
(3) section 48–904.09 of the D.C. Code and previous provisions in the D.C. Code that prohibited attempted simple possession of marijuana; and
(4) provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations, including as enforced under the United States Code, that prohibit only the simple possession or use of marijuana on Federal properties or installations, or in other locales, as currently or previously codified, including but not limited to 25 C.F.R. 11.452(a); 32 C.F.R. 1903.12(b)(2); 36 C.F.R. 2.35(b)(2); 36 C.F.R. 1002.35(b)(2); 36 C.F.R. 1280.16(a)(1); 36 C.F.R. 702.6(b); 41 C.F.R. 102–74.400(a); 43 C.F.R. 8365.1–4(b)(2); and 50 C.F.R. 27.82(b)(2).
My intent by this proclamation is to pardon only the offenses of simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana in violation of the Federal and D.C. laws set forth in paragraphs (1) through (3) of this proclamation, as well as the provisions in the Code of Federal Regulations consistent with paragraph (4) of this proclamation, and not any other offenses involving other controlled substances or activity beyond simple possession of marijuana, attempted simple possession of marijuana, or use of marijuana, such as possession of marijuana with intent to distribute or driving offenses committed while under the influence of marijuana. This pardon does not apply to individuals who were non-citizens not lawfully present in the United States at the time of their offense.
Pursuant to the procedures in Proclamation 10467, the Attorney General, acting through the Pardon Attorney, shall review all properly submitted applications for certificates of pardon and shall issue such certificates of pardon to eligible applicants in due course.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-second day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
Fifty years ago, the Congress passed one of the world’s most critical conservation laws—the Endangered Species Act. Ever since, the Endangered Species Act has prevented 99 percent of all fish, wildlife, and plants under its protection from going extinct. This law has safeguarded the incredible biodiversity across our Nation, supported the
Before the Endangered Species Act, Federal law lacked a unified framework to protect species facing extinction, including plants and animals that have long populated this country. When these species vanish, it jeopardizes the ecosystems and people that depend on them. Because America’s biodiversity is central to our national heritage and identity, courageous activists and scientists refused to let our precious wildlife disappear. With these activists and scientists leading the way, a group of bipartisan members of Congress came together to pass the Endangered Species Act. This law expanded the endangered species list, established new protections for them, and empowered agencies to enforce any violations of those protections. I was proud to vote for and contribute to the passage of the Endangered Species Act back then, and I am proud now of its lasting legacy. Because of these protections, nearly 300 species have avoided extinction—from the American alligator to the bald eagle, our national symbol.
My Administration has remained committed to restoring the full power and promise of the Endangered Species Act and conserving our Nation’s lands and waters. We proposed two rules that restore critical parts of the Endangered Species Act that were weakened during the previous administration and recommit to using the best available science to manage species. Additionally, our Inflation Reduction Act invests billions of dollars in conservation efforts—like forest management, ecosystem restoration, watershed protection, and other efforts that will support the recovery of imperiled wildlife and their habitats. That funding also includes $125 million for endangered species, directly benefiting more than 300 species currently listed under the Endangered Species Act.
From day one of my Administration, I have taken historic steps to conserve our natural treasures for the ages. During my first week in office, I issued an Executive Order establishing the country’s first-ever National Conservation Goal to conserve at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030. That goal is at the heart of my “America the Beautiful”; initiative to support locally led, voluntary conservation and restoration efforts across the country. We are delivering on those efforts—during my first year in office, we protected more lands and waters than any American President since John F. Kennedy. As we have pursued these conservation efforts, we have continued to work with farmers, ranchers, fishermen, landowners, Indigenous peoples, and rural communities, who do the everyday work of sustaining and cultivating our lands.
Additionally, my Administration began the designation process for multiple new national marine sanctuaries, including the Hudson Canyon in the Atlantic Ocean, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary off the coast of Southern California, and more than 700,000 square miles around the Pacific Remote Islands. If completed, the Pacific Remote Islands sanctuary would be among the largest marine protected areas on the planet. The Department of the Interior has also begun the process of conserving more than 13 million acres of lands of significant natural and cultural value in America’s Western Arctic.
Finally, we cannot adequately protect our Nation’s biodiversity if we do not combat the existential threat of climate change. That is why my Inflation Reduction Act made the largest investment in climate and conservation ever. Along with funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, these investments have helped protect our iconic outdoor spaces, implement climate-smart agriculture practices, preserve our historic sites, and make our Nation more resilient to the devastating impacts of climate change. I also signed an Executive Order to protect America’s forests, support nature-based solutions to climate change, and initiate the first National Nature Assessment to evaluate the state of our lands, waters, and wildlife.
As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, we recognize the incredible progress we have made over the past five decades to protect endangered species as well as all that is possible when we come together to conserve our planet. Together, we can ensure that all our Nation’s treasures—its lands, water, and all the incredible wildlife it holds—will be enjoyed for generations to come.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim December 28, 2023, as the 50th Anniversary of the Endangered Species Act. I call upon Americans to honor all the progress we have made toward protecting endangered species and to work together to conserve our Nation’s incredible biodiversity.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-seventh day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
1. On January 19, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of aluminum articles on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Secretary found and advised the President of his opinion that aluminum articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
2. In Proclamation 9704 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary’s finding that aluminum articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States, and decided to adjust the imports of aluminum articles (aluminum articles), by imposing a 10 percent ad valorem tariff on such articles imported
3. In Proclamation 9710 of March 22, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), the President noted the continuing discussions with the European Union (EU) on behalf of its member countries on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment to the national security by aluminum articles imported from the EU. Recognizing that the EU has an important security relationship with the United States, the President determined that the necessary and appropriate means to address the threat to the national security posed by imports of aluminum articles from the member countries of the EU was to continue the ongoing discussions and to exempt aluminum articles imports from these countries from the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9704 until May 1, 2018. In Proclamation 9739 of April 30, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), the President noted that, unless the President determines by further proclamation that the United States has reached a satisfactory alternative means to remove the threatened impairment to the national security by imports of aluminum articles from the member countries of the EU, the tariff proclaimed in clause 2 of Proclamation 9704 shall be effective June 1, 2018, for these countries.
4. In Proclamation 10327 of December 27, 2021 (Adjusting Imports of Aluminum Into the United States), I noted that the United States successfully concluded discussions with the EU on behalf of the EU’s member countries on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment of the national security posed by aluminum articles imports from the EU. The United States and the EU agreed to expand coordination involving trade remedies and customs matters, monitor bilateral steel and aluminum trade, cooperate on addressing non-market excess capacity, and annually review their arrangement and their ongoing cooperation. In addition, the United States and the EU agreed to seek to conclude, by October 31, 2023, negotiations on global steel and aluminum arrangements to restore market-oriented conditions and support the reduction of carbon intensity of steel and aluminum across modes of production.
5. Pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10327, the United States implemented a number of actions, including a tariff-rate quota that restricts the quantity of aluminum articles imported into the United States from the EU without the application of the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9704. I concluded that these measures provide an effective, long-term alternative means to address any contribution by EU aluminum articles imports to the threatened impairment to the national security by restraining aluminum articles imports to the United States from the EU, limiting transshipment, and discouraging
6. During the past 2 years, the United States and the EU have made substantial progress to identify the sources of non-market excess capacity and the actions needed to address distortions resulting from that non-market excess capacity. The United States and the EU are continuing their discussions on global steel and aluminum arrangements to restore market-oriented conditions in their steel and aluminum sectors and support the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of steel and aluminum across all modes of production. These discussions are anticipated to include alternative measures to prevent imports of aluminum from the EU from threatening the national security of the United States.
7. In light of the ongoing discussions and joint actions pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10327, I have determined that the necessary and appropriate means to address the threat to the national security posed by imports of aluminum articles from the member countries of the EU is to continue the discussions and joint actions with the EU and to extend the tariff-rate quota that restricts the quantity of aluminum articles imported into the United States from the EU without the application of the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9704. In order to be eligible for in-quota treatment, all imports of aluminum articles from the EU must be accompanied by a certificate of analysis. In my judgment, these measures will provide an effective, long-term alternative means to address any contribution by EU aluminum articles imports to the threatened impairment of the national security by restraining aluminum articles imports to the United States from the EU, limiting transshipment, discouraging excess aluminum capacity and production, and strengthening the United States-EU partnership in a fashion that will better enable future arrangements.
8. In light of the ongoing discussions and joint actions taken pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10327, I have determined that specified volumes of eligible aluminum articles imports from the EU will no longer threaten to impair the national security and have decided to exclude such imports from the EU up to a designated quota from the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9704 through December 31, 2025. The United States will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the tariff-rate quota and other measures agreed upon with the EU in addressing our national security needs, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.
9. The alternative means, including the tariff-rate quota, align with the recommendations specified in the original investigation into the effect of imports of aluminum articles on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended. The agreed-upon aggregate tariff-rate quota volume specified in the 2021 agreement between the United States and the EU, totaling
10. In light of my determination to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9704 as applied to eligible aluminum articles imports from the EU, I have considered whether it is necessary and appropriate in light of our national security interests to make any corresponding adjustments to such tariff as it applies to other countries. I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate, at this time, to maintain the current tariff level as it applies to other countries.
11. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.
12. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) Clause 2 of Proclamation 9704, as amended, is further amended in the second sentence by deleting “and”; before “(j)”; and inserting before the period at the end: “, and (k) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on March 10, 2023, from all countries except Argentina, Australia, Canada, Mexico, and from the member countries of the European Union through 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2025, from the United Kingdom, for aluminum articles covered by headings 9903.85.25 through 9903.85.44, inclusive, and from Russia.”;
(2) Imports of aluminum articles from member countries of the EU in excess of the tariff-rate quota quantities shall remain subject to the duties imposed by clause 2 of Proclamation 9704, as amended. The Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall recommend to the President, as warranted, updates to the in-quota volumes contained in this proclamation.
(3) Aluminum articles from a member country of the EU imported under an exclusion granted pursuant to clause 3 of Proclamation 9704, as amended, shall count against the in-quota volume of the tariff-rate quota implemented in Proclamation 10327 and extended in this proclamation.
(4) Aluminum articles eligible for in-quota treatment under the tariff-rate quota implemented in Proclamation 10327 and extended in this proclamation must be accompanied by a certificate of analysis in order to receive such treatment. The Secretary, in consultation with the Sec
(5) U.S. note 19(a)(v) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is amended by inserting, after the last sentence of the first paragraph, the sentence “A Certificate of Analysis for a smelted (unalloyed) primary aluminum used in a product imported under the above subheadings, or such other information as may be required by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, must be supplied by the importer in order to make entry under this subdivision.”;
(6) The modifications made by this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.
(7) Any imports of aluminum articles from the member countries of the EU that were admitted into a United States foreign trade zone in “privileged foreign status”; as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, to the provisions of the tariff-rate quota in effect at the time of the entry for consumption.
(8) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
1. On January 11, 2018, the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) transmitted to the President a report on the Secretary’s investigation into the effect of imports of steel mill articles (steel articles) on the national security of the United States under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended (19 U.S.C. 1862). The Secretary found and advised the President of his opinion that steel articles are being imported into the United States in such quantities and under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security of the United States.
2. In Proclamation 9705 of March 8, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), the President concurred in the Secretary’s finding that steel articles, as defined in clause 1 of Proclamation 9705, as amended by clause 8 of Proclamation 9711 of March 22, 2018 (Adjust
3. In Proclamation 9711, the President noted the continuing discussions with the European Union (EU) on behalf of its member countries on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment to the national security by imports of steel articles from these countries. Recognizing that the member countries of the EU have an important security relationship with the United States, the President determined that the necessary and appropriate means to address the threat to the national security posed by imports of steel articles from these countries was to continue the ongoing discussions and to exempt steel articles imports from these countries from the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 until May 1, 2018.
4. In Proclamation 9740 of April 30, 2018 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), the President noted that, unless the President determines by further proclamation that the United States has reached a satisfactory alternative means to remove the threatened impairment to the national security by imports of steel articles from the member countries of the EU, the tariff proclaimed in clause 2 of Proclamation 9705 shall be effective June 1, 2018, for these countries.
5. In Proclamation 10328 of December 27, 2021 (Adjusting Imports of Steel Into the United States), I noted that the United States successfully concluded discussions with the EU on behalf of its member countries on satisfactory alternative means to address the threatened impairment of the national security posed by steel articles imports from the EU. Specifically, the United States and the EU agreed to expand coordination involving trade remedies and customs matters, monitor bilateral steel and aluminum trade, cooperate on addressing non-market excess capacity, and annually review their arrangement for alternative means and their ongoing cooperation. In addition, the United States and the EU agreed to seek to conclude, by October 31, 2023, negotiations on global steel and aluminum arrangements to restore market-oriented conditions and support the reduction of carbon intensity of steel and aluminum across modes of production.
6. Pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10328, the United States implemented a number of actions, including a tariff-rate quota that restricts the quantity of steel articles imported into the United States from the EU without the application of the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705. I concluded that these measures provide an effective, long-term alternative means to address any contribution
7. During the past 2 years, the United States and the EU have made substantial progress to identify the sources of non-market excess capacity and the actions needed to address distortions resulting from that non-market excess capacity. The United States and the EU are continuing their discussions on global steel and aluminum arrangements to restore market-oriented conditions in their steel and aluminum sectors and support the reduction of the greenhouse gas emissions intensity of steel and aluminum across all modes of production. These discussions are anticipated to include alternative measures to prevent imports of steel from the EU from threatening the national security of the United States.
8. In light of the ongoing discussions and joint actions taken pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10328, I have determined that the necessary and appropriate means to address the threat to the national security posed by imports of steel articles from the member countries of the EU is to continue the discussions and joint actions with the EU and to extend the tariff-rate quota that restricts the quantity of steel articles imported into the United States from the EU without the application of the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705. In order to be eligible for in-quota treatment, steel articles must be melted and poured in the EU. In my judgment, these measures will provide an effective, long-term alternative means to address any contribution by EU steel articles imports to the threatened impairment of the national security by restraining steel articles imports to the United States from the EU, limiting transshipment, discouraging excess steel capacity and production, and strengthening the United States-EU partnership in a fashion that will better enable future arrangements.
9. In light of the ongoing discussions and joint actions taken pursuant to the agreement described in Proclamation 10328, I have determined that specified volumes of eligible steel articles imports from the EU will no longer threaten to impair the national security and have decided to exclude such imports from the EU up to a designated quota from the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 through December 31, 2025. The United States will monitor the implementation and effectiveness of the tariff-rate quota and other measures agreed upon with the EU in addressing our national security needs, and I may revisit this determination, as appropriate.
10. The alternative means, including the tariff-rate quota, advance the recommendations contained in the Secretary’s January 2018 report. The agreed-upon aggregate tariff-rate quota volume specified in the 2021 agreement between the United States and the EU, totaling 3.3 million metric tons, remains consistent with the objective of reaching and maintaining a sufficient capacity utilization rate in the domestic steel industry.
11. In Proclamation 10328, the United States agreed to renew for 2 calendar years all exclusions that were granted and utilized to import steel products tariff-free from the EU in Fiscal Year 2021. The United States will renew for 2 calendar years all exclusions that were utilized to import steel products free from section 232 tariffs from the EU in Fiscal Year 2021 and the first quarter of calendar year 2022. These exclusions were granted by the Department of Commerce due to a lack of domestic availability of the specified products in the United States.
12. In light of my determination to adjust the tariff proclaimed in Proclamation 9705 as applied to eligible steel articles imported from the EU, I have considered whether it is necessary and appropriate in light of our national security interests to make any corresponding adjustments to such tariff as it applies to other countries. I have determined that it is necessary and appropriate, at this time, to maintain the current tariff level as it applies to other countries.
13. Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, authorizes the President to adjust the imports of an article and its derivatives that are being imported into the United States in such quantities or under such circumstances as to threaten to impair the national security.
14. Section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) the substance of statutes affecting import treatment, and actions thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, as amended, section 301 of title 3, United States Code, and section 604 of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, do hereby proclaim as follows:
(1) Clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, is revised to read as follows:
“(2)(a) In order to establish certain modifications to the duty rate on imports of steel articles, subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is modified as provided in the Annex to this proclamation and any subsequent proclamations regarding such steel articles.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this proclamation, or in notices published pursuant to clause 3 of this proclamation, all steel articles imports covered by heading 9903.80.01, in subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS, shall be subject to an additional 25 percent ad valorem rate of duty with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, as follows: (i) on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 23, 2018, from all countries
(2) Steel eligible for in-quota treatment under the tariff-rate quota implemented in Proclamation 10328 and extended in this proclamation must be melted and poured in a member country of the EU in order to receive such treatment. The Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security and the United States Trade Representative, is authorized to take such actions as are necessary to ensure compliance with this requirement. Failure to comply could result in applicable remedies such as the collection of the tariff set forth in clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, or penalties under United States law.
(3) Imports of steel articles from member countries of the EU in excess of the tariff-rate quota quantities implemented in Proclamation 10328 and extended in this proclamation shall remain subject to the duties imposed by clause 2 of Proclamation 9705, as amended. The Secretary, in consultation with the United States Trade Representative and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall recommend to the President, as warranted, updates to the in-quota volumes contained in this proclamation.
(4) Steel articles from a member country of the EU imported under an exclusion granted pursuant to clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, shall not count against the in-quota volume of the tariff-rate quota extended in this proclamation.
(5) The Secretary is directed to renew all utilized exclusions granted pursuant to clause 3 of Proclamation 9705, as amended, and utilized in Fiscal Year 2021 (October 1, 2020, through September 30, 2021) and the first quarter of calendar year 2022 (January 1, 2022, through March 31, 2022), for the import of steel articles from one or more member countries of the EU for a period of 2 years from the date of this proclamation. The renewed exclusions shall be for an annual volume equal to that volume imported from a member country of the EU pursuant to the exclusions in Fiscal Year 2021 and the first quarter of calendar year 2022. The Secretary shall communicate to U.S. Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security the exclusions and the volumes of steel articles from member countries of the EU that are allowed under this provision. The Secretary shall, by publication on the internet, or by other means, inform importers of the availability and volume of exclusions renewed by this provision. This provision
(6) U.S. note 16(f) to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the HTSUS is amended by inserting, at the end of the first sentence of such note subdivision, the phrase “, provided that such iron or steel products are melted and poured in any member country of the European Union”; after the final appearance of the word “subdivision”;.
(7) The modifications made by this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, and shall continue in effect, unless such actions are expressly reduced, modified, or terminated.
(8) Any imports of steel articles from the member countries of the EU that were admitted into a United States foreign trade zone under “privileged foreign status”; as defined in 19 CFR 146.41, prior to 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, shall be subject upon entry for consumption made on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 1, 2024, to the provisions of the tariff-rate quota in effect at the time of the entry for consumption.
(9) Any provision of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that is inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation is superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
1. In Proclamation 9834 of December 21, 2018, the President determined that the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (Mauritania) was not making continual progress in meeting the requirements described in 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). Thus, pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act (19 U.S.C. 2466a(a)(3)), the President terminated the designation of Mauritania as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.
2. Section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act authorizes the President to designate a country listed in section 107 of the AGOA (19 U.S.C. 3706)
3. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act, based on actions the Government of Mauritania has taken, I have determined that Mauritania meets the eligibility requirements set forth in section 104 of the AGOA and the eligibility criteria set forth in section 502 of the Trade Act, and I have decided to designate Mauritania as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
4. Section 112(c) of the AGOA, as amended in section 6002(a)(3) of the Africa Investment Incentive Act of 2006 (division D, title VI, Public Law 109–432, 120 Stat. 2922, 3190–93), 19 U.S.C. 3721(c), provides special rules for certain apparel articles imported from “lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.”;
5. I have also determined that Mauritania satisfies the criterion for treatment as a “lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country”; under section 112(c) of the AGOA.
6. In Proclamation 7350 of October 2, 2000, the President initially designated the Central African Republic, the Gabonese Republic (Gabon), Republic of Niger (Niger), and the Republic of Uganda (Uganda) as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.
7. Section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act 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 meeting the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act.
8. Pursuant to section 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act, I have determined that the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda do not meet the requirements described in section 506A(a)(1) of the Trade Act. Accordingly, I have decided to terminate the designations of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act, effective January 1, 2024.
9. On April 22, 1985, the United States and Israel entered into the Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Israel (USIFTA), which the Congress approved in section 3 of the United States-Israel Free Trade Area Implementation Act of 1985 (the “USIFTA Implementation Act”;) (Public Law 99–47, 99 Stat. 82 (19 U.S.C. 2112 note)). Section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act provides that, whenever the President determines that it is necessary to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, the President may proclaim such withdrawal, suspension, modification, or continuance of any duty, or such continuance of existing duty-free or excise treatment, or such additional duties, as the President determines to be required or appropriate to carry out the USIFTA. In order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to agricultural trade with Israel, on July 27, 2004, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel con
10. In Proclamation 7826 of October 4, 2004, the President determined, pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act and consistent with the 2004 Agreement, that, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, it was necessary to provide duty-free access into the United States through December 31, 2008, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel. Each year from 2008 through 2022, the United States and Israel entered into agreements to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement was in force for 1-year periods to allow additional time for the two governments to conclude an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement. To carry out the extension agreements, the President in Proclamations 8334 of December 31, 2008; 8467 of December 23, 2009; 8618 of December 21, 2010; 8770 of December 29, 2011; 8921 of December 20, 2012; 9072 of December 23, 2013; 9223 of December 23, 2014; 9383 of December 21, 2015; 9555 of December 15, 2016; 9687 of December 22, 2017; 9834 of December 21, 2018; 9974 of December 26, 2019; 10128 of December 22, 2020; 10326 of December 23, 2021; and 10509 of December 23, 2022, modified the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) to provide duty-free access into the United States for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, each time for an additional 1-year period. On November 13, 2023, the United States entered into an agreement with Israel to extend the period that the 2004 Agreement is in force for an additional 1-year period, through December 31, 2024, to allow for further negotiations on an agreement to replace the 2004 Agreement. Pursuant to section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act, I have determined that it is necessary, in order to maintain the general level of reciprocal and mutually advantageous concessions with respect to Israel provided for by the USIFTA, to provide duty-free access into the United States for an additional 1-year period, through the close of December 31, 2024, for specified quantities of certain agricultural products of Israel, as provided in Annex I of this proclamation.
11. Section 604 of the Trade Act, as amended (19 U.S.C. 2483), authorizes the President to embody in the HTS the substance of the relevant provisions of that Act, and of other acts affecting import treatment, and actions taken thereunder, including the removal, modification, continuance, or imposition of any rate of duty or other import restriction.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including but not limited to section 111(a) of the AGOA, sections 506A(a)(1) and 506A(a)(3) of the Trade Act, section 4(b) of the USIFTA Implementation Act, and section 604 of the Trade Act, as amended, do proclaim that:
(1) Mauritania is designated as a beneficiary sub-Saharan African country for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act.
(2) In order to reflect this designation in the HTS, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list
(3) For purposes of section 112(c) of the AGOA, Mauritania is a lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African country.
(4) In order to provide the tariff treatment intended under section 112(c) of the AGOA, note 2(d) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS is modified by inserting in alphabetical sequence in the list of lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries “Islamic Republic of Mauritania;”;.
(5) The designations of the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries for purposes of section 506A of the Trade Act are terminated, effective January 1, 2024.
(6) In order to reflect in the HTS that beginning January 1, 2024, the Central African Republic, Gabon, Niger, and Uganda shall no longer be designated as beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries, general note 16(a) to the HTS is modified by deleting “Central African Republic”;, “Gabonese Republic”;, “Republic of Niger”;, and “Republic of Uganda”; from the list of beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries. Note 7(a) to subchapter II and note 1 to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS are each modified by deleting “Uganda”; from the list of beneficiary countries. Further, note 2(d) to subchapter XIX of chapter 98 of the HTS is modified by deleting “Central African Republic;”;, “Niger;”;, and “Republic of Uganda;”; from the list of lesser developed beneficiary sub-Saharan African countries.
(7) The modifications to the HTS set forth in paragraphs (1) through (6) of this proclamation shall be effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after January 1, 2024.
(8) In order to implement tariff commitments under the 2004 Agreement through December 31, 2024, the HTS is modified as set forth in Annex I of this proclamation.
(9) The modifications and technical rectifications to the HTS made by Annex I of this proclamation shall enter into effect on the applicable dates set forth in Annex I of this proclamation.
(10) Any provisions of previous proclamations and Executive Orders that are inconsistent with the actions taken in this proclamation are superseded to the extent of such inconsistency.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
More than 27 million people around the world endure the abhorrent abuse of human trafficking and forced labor, including thousands of people right here in the United States. It is a threat to global security, public safety, and human dignity. During National Human Trafficking
In 2021, I signed an updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, outlining my Administration’s efforts to prevent trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and protect survivors. The plan reflects our commitment to standing up for the most vulnerable among us, and it is a foundation for our work to ensure safe, orderly, and humane migration. Federal agencies are today working closely with governments and organizations around the world to address the root causes of trafficking, bring traffickers to justice, and support survivors as they recover and rebuild their lives.
The plan also reflects our commitment to workers’ rights and ending forced labor in global supply chains. Two years ago, I signed the bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, and we will continue working with global leaders to make sure that American imports are produced without forced labor and that the global economic system offers traffickers no safe harbor. More recently, I issued a first-ever Presidential Memorandum elevating and integrating workers’ rights and high labor standards into our Nation’s foreign policy priorities, including preventing forced labor and other abuses.
The vast majority of human trafficking victims are women and girls. In 2022, we reauthorized the Violence Against Women Act, which I first wrote as a United States Senator some 30 years ago—this time expanding the jurisdiction of Tribal courts to prosecute non-Native American sex traffickers. The American Rescue Plan also provided tens of thousands of housing vouchers to help people fleeing domestic violence or human trafficking find a safe home and reclaim their lives. As we work to help people disproportionately affected by human trafficking, including members of racial and ethnic minorities, women and girls, the LGBTQI+ community, and migrants, we remain committed to learning from and partnering with survivors to support their recoveries and to recruit their help in better spotting and preventing these too often overlooked crimes.
There is no greater sin than the abuse of power, and human trafficking is among the worst abuses that exist. We must each play a role in ending it; we cannot turn away. This month, we urge every American to learn how to identify the signs of trafficking and to share the National Human Trafficking hotline (888–373–7888)—an important resource to report a tip or to ask for help. Together, we must make sure every human being is free to live a life full of dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2024 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. I call upon businesses, civil society organizations, communities of faith, families, and all Americans to recognize the vital role we play in combating human trafficking and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities aimed at preventing all forms of human trafficking.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-
During National Mentoring Month, we celebrate the millions of mentors across the country who step up and give their time, care, and hearts to make sure every young person in our Nation has a fair shot at the American Dream.
For most young people, a bond or even a conversation with someone who believes in them can make a tremendous difference in their lives, exposing them to new goals, new ideas, and new ways of doing things. Since day one, my Administration has been working to support those kinds of relationships—in schools, in communities, and in the workforce. Through the American Rescue Plan, we secured a historic $130 billion for America’s K–12 schools, which helped put more teachers in classrooms and more counselors, social workers, and supportive staff in our schools. States and districts have also used these investments to provide high-quality tutoring and summer and after-school programs for students. Further, it boosted funding for AmeriCorps to expand its service options and hire new mentors to volunteer in our communities. My Administration also launched the National Partnership for Student Success last year, with a goal of recruiting 250,000 adults by the summer of 2025 to encourage, tutor, and coach young people as they chart a path forward. At the same time, working with labor unions, we have made historic investments in pre-apprenticeship and Registered Apprenticeship programs that provide guidance and skills to help young people build meaningful careers. In addition, we created the American Climate Corps—a workforce training and service initiative that will put more than 20,000 Americans to work in clean energy, conservation, and climate resilience jobs.
These programs give young people a chance to connect with others—to discover who they are, what they care about, and how to achieve their dreams. Any one of us can have a positive impact on a young person’s life if we take the time to let them know that someone is on their side. Doing so, often has a tremendously powerful impact on a mentor’s life as well. During National Mentoring Month, I urge Americans of all ages—friends, neighbors, college students, coaches, employers, community and faith leaders, and everyday people just looking to make a difference—to visit americorps.gov/serve and partnershipstudentsuccess.org to learn more about becoming a mentor or tutor.
The greatness of a nation is measured in part by how it prepares its next generation to succeed. Ours is a great Nation, and together, as mentors, we can each change a young person’s life for the better—and with it, help guarantee our country a future of unlimited possibilities.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2024 as National Mentoring Month. I call upon Americans across the country to observe this month with mentoring, appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.
During National Stalking Awareness Month, we honor the strength and resilience of the millions of people across this country who have endured stalking. We reaffirm our commitment to building a future where everyone can live free from fear, threats, and abuse.
Stalking at its core is an abuse of power. It affects one in three women and one in six men in their lifetimes. It can happen in person or online; it can be committed by a stranger or someone you know. The fear it sparks can be all-consuming, shattering one’s sense of security, safety, and certainty. It can threaten loved ones and even force victims to uproot their lives and move at a moment’s notice. It is wrong.
One of my proudest achievements in life was writing and championing the landmark Violence Against Women Act some 30 years ago in the United States Senate. It began to change our culture, bringing these crimes out of the shadows and getting survivors the services and support they needed. Over the years, I worked with courageous advocates to keep expanding protections and boosting access to healing and justice. In 2022, I was proud to sign a reauthorization of the law, increasing investment in prosecution, prevention, and support for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The new law also creates a Federal civil cause of action for the non-consensual distribution of intimate images and expands the jurisdiction of Tribal courts to prosecute non-Native American perpetrators of stalking, sexual assault, child abuse, and sex trafficking.
At the same time, we are working to make sure our response keeps pace with technology and protects all Americans from online harassment and cybercrime. In 2022, I created the White House Task Force to Address Online Harassment and Abuse to help stop technology-facilitated gender-based violence. It aims to find new ways to boost accountability, support survivors, and further research the threat. Survivors, parents, educators, advocates, medical and legal professionals, and others have shared their expertise with the task force, which will help inform their work.
This past May, I also released America’s first-ever National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, which tackles the issue on seven fronts—prevention, healing, housing, online safety, the justice system, crisis response, and data. Since the beginning of my Administration, the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women has provided grants to law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and community organizations to work together to stop stalking and other gender-based crimes. The Department of Housing and Urban Development has provided tens of thousands of emergency housing vouchers to help stalking victims and others find a safe place to rebuild their lives.
Too often, stalking happens in the shadows, hidden from the view of others. This month, we shine a harsh light on these crimes to make clear that this kind of harassment, threat, or unwanted aggressive attention has no place in America. There is so much at stake. Every American deserves to feel safe and protected, have a little peace of mind, and live with dignity and respect.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 2024 as National Stalking Awareness Month. I call on all Americans to speak out against stalking and to support the efforts of advocates, courts, service providers, and law enforcement to help those who are targeted and send the message to perpetrators that these crimes will not go unpunished.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty-ninth day of December, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-eighth.