Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2022

The President. Hello, everybody. Good morning.

I just signed a request to Congress for critical security, economic, and humanitarian assistance to help Ukraine continue to counter Putin's aggression and at a very pivotal moment.

We need this bill to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom. And our NATO allies, our EU partners, they're going to pay their fair share of the costs as well, but we have to do this. We have to do our part as well in leading the alliance.

The cost of this fight is not cheap, but caving to aggression is going to be more costly if we allow it to happen. We either back the Ukrainian people as they defend their country, or we stand by as the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine.

Every dayâevery dayâthe Ukrainians pay for theâa price withâand the price they pay is with their lives for this fight. So we need to contribute arms, funding, ammunition, and the economic support to make their courage and sacrifice have purpose so they can continue this fight and do what they're doing.

It's critical this funding gets approved and approved as quickly as possible. You know, long before Russia lostâlaunched its brutal invasion, I made clear how the United States would respond. I predicted they would invade, and they surely did. We said we'd not send U.S. troops to fight Russian troops in Ukraine, but we would provide robust military assistance and try to unify the Western world against Russia's aggression.

I said I would impose powerful sanctions on Russia and that we'd destroy and developâ we'd destroy this myth that somehow they could continue to move without the rest of the world acting; that we'd deploy additional forces to defend NATO territory, particularly in the east, along the Russian and Belarus borders. That's exactlyâthat's exactlyâwhat we said we would do, and we did.

But despite the disturbing rhetoric coming out of the Kremlin, the facts are plain for everybody to see. We're not attacking Russia; we're helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. And just as Putin chose to launch this brutal invasion, he could make the choice to end this brutal invasion.

Russia is the aggressor. No if, ands, or buts about it. Russia is the aggressor. And the world must and will hold Russia accountable. Russia's continued assault onâis yielding immense human costs. We've seen them leave behind horrifying evidence of their atrocities and war crimes in the areas they've tried to control. And as long as the assaults and atrocities continue, we're going to continue to supply military assistance.

And I might note, parenthetically: You know, there's a dinner this weekend to celebrate the press. Think of what the American press has done, the courage it has taken to stay in these war zones, the courage it has taken to report every single day.

I've always had respect for the press, but I can't tell you how much respect I have watchingâwatchingâthem in these zones where they're under fire, risking their own lives to make sure the world hears the truth. Imagine if we weren't getting that information. It'd be a different world. It'd be a different circumstance.

We're providing Ukraine significant, timely intelligence to help them defend themselves against the Russian onslaught. And we're facilitating a significant flow of weapons and systems to Ukraine from our allies and partners around the world, including tanks, artillery, and other weapons.

That support is moving with unprecedented speed. Much of the new equipment we've announced in the past 2 monthsâ2 weeks has already gotten to Ukraine, where it can be put to direct use on the battlefield.

However, we have almost exhausted what we callâthe fancy phraseâthe "drawdown authority" that Congress authorized Ukraineâauthorized for Ukraine in a bipartisan spending bill last month. Basically, we're out of money.

And so that's why today, in order to sustain Ukraine as it continues to fight, I'm sending Congress a supplemental budget request. It's going to keep weapons and ammunition flowing without interruption to the brave Ukrainian fighters and continue delivering economic and humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people.

This so-called supplemental funding addresses the needs of the Ukrainian military during the critical weeks and months ahead. And it begins to transition to longer term security assistance that's going to help Ukraine deter and continue to defend against Russian aggression.

This assistance would provide even more artillery, armored vehicles, anti-armor systems, anti-air capabilities that have been used so effectively thus far on the battlefield by the Ukrainian warriors.

You know, and it's going to deliver much-needed humanitarian assistance as well as food, water, medicines, shelter, and other aid to Ukrainians displaced by Russia's war and provide aid to those seeking refuge in other countries from Ukraine.

It's also going to help schools and hospitals open. It's going to allow pensions and social support to be paid to the Ukrainian people so they have somethingâsomethingâin their pocket. It's also going to provide critical resources to address food shortages around the globe.

Ukraine was one of the world's largest agriculture producers. It typically grows 10 percent of all the wheat that's shipped around the world. Putin has asserted sanctions are blocking food from Ukraine and Russia getting on the marketâthe sanctions we've imposed on Russia. Simply not true.

Putin's war, not sanctions, are impacting the harvest of food and disrupting the movement of that food by land and sea to nations around the globe that need it. This funding is going to help ease rising food prices at home as well, and abroad, caused by Russia's war in Ukraine.

It's going to help support American farmers produce more crops like wheat and oilseed, which is good for rural America, good for the American consumer, and good for the world.

And this supplemental request will use the Defense Production Act to expand domestic production and reserveâand the reserve of critical materials, materials like nickel and lithium that have been disrupted by Putin's war in Ukraine and that are necessary to make everything from defense systems to automobiles.

And I hope Congress will move on this funding quickly. I believe they will. I want to thank CongressâDemocrats and Republicansâfor their support of the people of Ukraine.

And next week, I will be in Alabama to visit a Lockheed Martin plant that manufactures the Javelin antitank missile we've been sending to Ukraine and to thank the American workersâ thank themâfor producing the weapons that helped stop Russia's advances in Ukrainian cities like Kyiv. Their hard work has played a critical role in ensuring Putin's strategic failure in Ukraine, and they should know that we know it.

This legislative package strengthens our law enforcement capabilities to seize property linked to Russia's kleptocracy. It's going to create new, expedited procedures for forfeiture and seizure of these properties. And it's going to ensure that when the oligarchs' assets are sold off, funds can be used directly to remedy the harm Russia caused in their helpâand help build Ukraine.

Additionally, yesterdayâRussia threatened two of our allies with a cut-off of energy supplies. While America has ended all Russian fossil fuel imports because we are able to use our vast supportâsupply of power in our country, some European countries have faced more challenges in reducing their reliance on Russian fuel.

Russia has long claimed to be, quote, "the reliable source of energy" for the world. No matter what the differences are, their customers are always going to be in good shape. But these actions prove that energy is not just a commodity that Russia sells to help meet other countries' needs, but a weapon it will use to deploy against those who stand against their aggression.

So let me be clear: We will not let Russia intimidate or blackmail their way out of these sanctions. We will not allow them to use their oil and gas to avoid consequences for their aggression.

We're working with other nationsâlike Korea, Japan, Qatar, and othersâto support our effort to help the European allies threatened by Russia with gas blackmail and their energy needs in other ways. Aggression will not win. Threats will not win.

This is just another reminder of the imperative for Europe and the world to move more and more of our power needs to clean energy. In the United States, we're doing that right now. Last year, we developed [deployed; ; White House correction.] more solar, wind, and battery storage than any year in our history, enough to power 56 million American homes.

Earlier this month, we acted to bolster the relianceâour reliance on our nuclear energy facilities, which generates more than half of our carbon-free power. And we're just getting started. I look at this as a serious problem, but also an enormous opportunityâan opportunity.

Bottom line: All these actions we've been taking are about the truthâthis truth: Investing in Ukraine's freedom and security is a small price to pay to punish Russian aggression, to lessen the risk of future conflicts.

You know, throughout our history, we've learned that when dictators do not pay the price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and engage in more aggression. They keep moving. And the costs, the threats to America and the world keep rising.

We can't let this happen. Our unity at home, our unity with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin: You will never succeed in dominating Ukraine.

Finally, we're going to continue to deliver critical support to Ukraine. We must also not let our guard down in our fight against COVIDâ19 at home and abroad. That's why I'm, again, urging Congress to act on my request for $22.5 billion in emergency resources so the American people can continue to protect themselves from COVIDâ19.

The reason we were so successful in the past is because I was able to work with drug manufacturers to order significant quantities of material we needed ahead of time to get in the front of the line. Without additional funding, we can't preorder the amount of vaccines we need, and we risk losing our spot in line for vaccines that target multiple variants.

We're running out of supply for therapeutics like antiviral pills that we desperately need. Without additional funding, we're unable to purchase the lifesaving treatment for the

American people. We've donated more vaccines and treatments to the world than all other nations in the world combined. If the U.S. won't do it, no one else is really going to step up and do it.

Without additional funding, the United States won't be able to help stop the spread around the world and close off ongoing supportâsources of the supply chain disruptions.

Look, let's get both of these critical tasks done. No delays, no excuses, just action now. Now. Thank you all. Thank you.

Q. Mr. President, what's your message to refugees onââ

Q. Mr. President, how worried are youâhow worried are you byâgo ahead. No, you go.

Q. Oh, okay.

The President. Watch your head, man. You're going to get hurt. He's turning that camera.

Q. I'm in a tight spot here, Mr. President.

Ukraine/Refugees

Q. He's a gentleman. Mr. President, I wanted to ask what your message is to Ukrainian refugees on the southwest border and those that are trying to flee Ukraine from the violence.

The President. We have made a direct means by which they can get from Europe, from Ukraine, directly to the United States, without going through the southern border. In the meantime, in the southern border, we're trying to work through and make sure theyâit's an orderly process, they're able to get in.

But just so you know, we have said there's no need to go to the southern border; fly directly to the United States. We set up a mechanism whereby they can come directly with a visa.

Q. Mr. Presidentââ

Q. Mr. President, thank you. How worried are you by a growing number of Russian comments in the media and amongst some of their officials painting this conflict as actually already a conflict between NATO, the U.S., and Russia? And they're painting in very alarmist terms, talking of nuclear weapons, saying it's a life-or-death struggle, et cetera.

And just separatelyâwell, connected to that: Lavrov himself self says it's already a proxy warânot a direct war, but a proxy war. So are either of those two things true? And do they worry you, those things?

The President. They're not true. They do concern me because it shows the desperation that Russia is feeling about their abject failure in being able to do what they set out to do in the first instance.

And so itâI think it's more of a reflection not of the truth, but of their failure. And so, instead of saying that the Ukrainians, equipped with some capability to resist Russian forces, are doing this, they've got to sayâtell their people the United States and all of NATO is engaged in taking out Russian troops and tanks, et cetera.

So it'sânumber one, it's an excuse for their failure. But number two, it's also, if they really mean it, it'sâno one should be making idle comments about the use of nuclear weapons or the possibility that they'd use that. It's irresponsible.

Q. But, Mr. President, on thatâMr. President, Russiaââ

Title 42 Public Health Policies in Force at the U.S.-Mexico Border

Q. Mr. President, back on the border, Title 42. A number of your Democratic friends are pressuring the White House to maintain that policy. Can you give us a straight answer on whether you're going to heed that request or you're going to get rid of it?

The President. I can give you a straight answer. We had proposed to eliminate that policy by the end of May. The Court has said we can't so far. And what the Court says, we're going to do. The Court could come along and say we cannot do that, and that's it.

Q. Absent the Courtââ

Q. Mr. President, what options do youâoh, sorry.

Russia/Natural Gas Supplies in Poland and Bulgaria

Q. Mr. President, you say that this is not a proxy war, but Russia clearly disagrees. They say that war means war. So how concerned are you that they may start to act accordingly, even if you disagree?

The President. We are prepared for whatever they do.

Q. What options do you have to ensure Poland and Bulgaria have sufficient supplies of gas?

The President. First of all, as you know, Poland has indicated they have significant reserves of gas that they have planned for, as doesânot as much, but as does Bulgaria. And we have worked with our allies, from Japan on, to say that we may divert our sale of the natural gas that we're sending to those countries and divert it directly to Poland and Bulgaria.

So Iâyou know, that's the most I can tell you right now.

National Economy/Risk of Recession/Tax Code Reform

Q. Sir, how concerned are you about a recession, given the GDP report today showed a contraction of 1.4 percent in the first quarter?

The President. Well, I'm not concerned about a recession. I mean, you're always concerned about a recession, but the GDP, you know, fell to 1.4 percent.

But here's the deal: We're also hadâlast quarter, consumer spending and business investment and residential investment increased at significant rates, both for leisure as well as hard products, number one.

Number two, theâwe areâunemployment is the lowest rate since 1970. A record 4.5 million businesses were created last year. We're in a situation where theâyou know, we have a very different view than Senator Scott and Republicans, who want to raise taxes on the middle class families and want to include half of small-business owners in that.

So I think we'reâwhat you're seeing is enormous growth in the country that was affected by everything from COVID and the COVID blockages that weâoccurred along the way.

Now, we'reâyou always have to be taking a look. And no one is predicting a recession now. They're predictingâor some are predicting there may be recession in 2023. I'm concerned about it, but I know one thing: that, you know, if our Republican friends are really interested in doing something about dealing with the economic growth, they should help us continue to lower the deficit, which we've done last yearâover $350 billion.

They should be willing to work with us to have a Tax Code that is actually one that works and everybody pays their fair share. And they should be in a position where you shouldn't be raising taxes on middle class folks. You should be raising taxes on people who everyone acknowledgesâand the vast majority of Republicansâaren't paying their fair share.

I've said it a hundred times: You haveâyou know, 50 major corporations of the Fortune 500 companies made $40 billion last year and didn't pay single penny. No one under our proposal making under $400,000 a year will see a penny in their taxes go up. Not one penny.

U.S. Assistance to Ukraine/Coronavirus Response Efforts

Q. Mr. President, what do you think about tying COVID aid to Ukraine aid? Do you think COVID aid and Ukraine aid should be tied together in legislation?

The President. Well, I don't care how they tieâhow they do it. I'm sending them both up. I mean, Iâthey can do it separately or together. But we need them both.

Federal Student Loan Debt Forgiveness

Q. Mr. President, Majority Leader Schumer said yesterday that you're, quote, "getting closer" to using executive authority to cancel up to $50,000 in student loan debt. Can you confirm that? What exactly are you looking toâplan to do here in the comingââ

The President. You mean my spokesman said that? [Laughter]

Q. Majority Leader Schumer.

The President. Look, number one, one ofâthe first thing we did was reform the system that was in place that didn't work for anybody that allowed people to write off debt if they engaged in public service. We've almost a millionâseven-hundred-and-eighty-fiveâdon't hold me to the exact number; I'll get the numberâseven-hundred-and-some-thousand have had debt forgivenâ their whole debt forgiven because of their work working inâeither as teachers or other means by which they qualify. And we continue to make that easier.

Secondly, I am considering dealing with some debt reduction. I am not considering $50,000 debt reduction. But I'm in the process of taking a hard look at whether or not there are going toâ

there will be additional debt forgiveness, and I'll have an answer on that in the next couple of weeks.

Thank you.

Q. How high are you looking at?

The President. Thank you. Thanks.

Q. Thank you, sir.

Q. Thank you, Mr. President.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:13 a.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of Russia. A reporter referred to Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Viktorovich Lavrov of Russia.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Ukraine, emergency supplemental appropriations request to provide security and economic assistance; Interviews With the News Media : Exchanges with reporters :: White House.

Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Putin, Vladimir Vladimirovich; Schumer, Charles E.; Scott, Richard L.

Subjects: Agriculture : Domestic production, strengthening efforts; Agriculture : Food markets and prices; Arms and munitions : Nuclear weapons and material :: Security; Budget, Federal : Appropriations :: Consolidated; Budget, Federal : Appropriations :: Emergency supplemental; Budget, Federal : Deficit and national debt; Business and industry : Domestic investment, promotion efforts; Civil rights : Freedom of press; Commerce, international : Global supply chain disruptions, efforts to address; Congress : Bipartisanship; Congress : Senate :: Majority leader; Coronavirus pandemic, international cooperation efforts; Defense and national security : Intelligence; Defense Production Act of 1950, executive authorities; Diseases : Coronavirus, domestic prevention efforts; Economy, national : Economic concerns; Economy, national : Improvement; Education : Postsecondary education :: Student loans, repayment options; Education : Teachers; Employment and unemployment : Unemployment rate; Energy : Domestic production, promotion efforts; Energy : Nuclear energy :: Promotion and expansion efforts; Energy : Solar and wind energy; Europe : Energy sources, diversification efforts; Immigration and naturalization : Foreign nationals and refugees, U.S. admission policy; Immigration and naturalization : Refugees; Judiciary : Judicial review; North Atlantic Treaty Organization; Russia

: International and U.S. sanctions; Russia : Oil supply and refining; Russia : President; Russia : Ukraine, airstrikes and invasion; Taxation : Corporate tax rates; Taxation : Tax Code, reform; Ukraine : Refugees, humanitarian situation; Ukraine : Russian airstrikes and invasion; Ukraine :

U.S. assistance.

DCPD Number: DCPD202200321.