Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2021

April 20, 2021

The President. Thanks for taking the time to come in. We're having a very important meeting. There's a lot on our agenda from the CHC. We've got a lot to talk about.

Representatives from the House and the Senateâand I wanted to express my gratitude to the Caucus for being willing to come down. We've got a whole range of issues to discuss. And you know, I want to make sure thatâfrom the American Rescue Plan, to COVIDâI told the doc that Iâif I hadn't had my shot already, I'd ask him to give me one because he's been taking care of business.

But the Americaâin our view, and I mean it sincerelyâcannot succeed if it'sâunless Hispanic families succeed. You know, we talk aboutâI know I'm tired of hearing me say it for a year and a halfâwe talk about the idea thatâwith the last administration's failure to invest or being evenâbe anywhere remotely positive.

But Iâthe point I keep making, to remind peopleâand people understand it, and the recent polling nationwide shows they understand itâis that 24 out of every 100 kids in grade school right now is a Latino or Hispanic. The idea that we're not going to invest in what will be roughly 25 percent of the population by the time these kids are in our positions, it's just absolutelyâit makes no sense. And that's what we're all about.

We're going to talk about everything today, my guess is, from immigration to theâmy Jobs Plan and whatâhow it worked for you and how it didn't, what you think we should be doing.

We're also creating a whole lot ofjob opportunities in neighborhoods, because for most of theâwhere I come from and all of you come fromâis that it gets down to neighborhoodsâit gets down to neighborhoodsâwhether that grocery store is open, whether that local bank is there, whether theâwhether or not you have a barber shop, a beauty shop. It all matters. It matters about people and their communities and how they belong.

So we're going to spend some time pushing forwardâI'm going to spend some time trying to sell you all on what I think you're sold on with the jobs bill and the aspects of the jobs bill. And I want to talk a little strategy with you all as well, if that's okay. If that's all right with you, Mr.

Chairman.

Senator Robert Menendez. Whatever you say, Mr. President.

The President. All right. The chairman is now chairman of the committee that I enjoyed more than anything I did in my whole career; he's chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee.

So the Vice President and I are looking forward to this meeting, and we're going to try to get a lot done. And I think it's always great when a meeting starts off in a meeting with a bunch of friends. [*Laughter*]

So thank you all for being here. That's what we're going to be talking about today. Thank

you.

Trial of Former Police Officer Derek Chauvin in the Death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25, 2020

Q. President Biden, you spoke to George Floyd's family; what was your message?

The President. I know, GeorgeâI'm just going to answer that one question because George isâI've come to know George's family not just in passingâI've spent time with them. I spent time with his little daughter Giannaâyou should see this beautiful child; and his brotherâboth brothers, as a matter of fact.

And so I can only imagine the pressure and anxiety they're feeling. And so I waited until the jury was sequestered, andâI called. And asâI wasn't going to say anything about it, but Philonise said today on television, and he accurately saidâit was a private conversationâ because Joe understands what it's like to go through loss.

And they're a good family. And they're calling for peace and tranquility no matter what that verdict is. I'm praying the verdict is the right verdict, which isâI think it's overwhelming, in my view. I wouldn't say that unless the jury was sequestered now and not hearing me say that.

Butâso we just talked a little. I wanted to know how they were doing, just personally. And we talked about personal things.

Thank you very much for coming in.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:43 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Rep. Raul Ruiz; and Philonise, Terrence, and Rodney Floyd, brothers of Mr. Floyd. Also participating in the meeting were Sens. Catherine Cortez Masto and Ben Ray LujÃ¡n; and Reps. Peter R. Aguilar, Nanette Diaz Barragan, Adriano D. Espaillat, Teresa I. Leger FernÃ¡ndez, Linda T. SÃ¡nchez, and Darren M. Soto.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Congressional Hispanic Caucus leadership, meeting with President; Interviews With the News Media : Exchange with reporters :: White House.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Floyd, Gianna; Floyd, Philonise; Floyd, Rodney; Floyd, Terrence; Harris, Kamala D.; Menendez, Robert; Ruiz, Raul.

Subjects: Congress : Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Congress : Senate :: Foreign Relations Committee; Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Economy, national : Strengthening efforts ; Employment and unemployment : Job creation and growth"; Immigration and naturalization : Reform; Minnesota : Trial of former Police Officer. Derek Chauvin in 2020 death of George Floyd in Minnesota; White House Office : Vice President.

DCPD Number: DCPD202100330.