Administration of Joseph R. Biden, Jr., 2023

January 24, 2023

The President. Well, I'm excited. We've got a strong group of leaders here, a new start, and a new Congress. And I'm excited about the leadership we have running the Democratic side.

We got a lot done in the last couple years, and we've got a lot more to do and a lot more to finish what we've already done. And we've already made some real progress on the economy, on inflation, and a number of other things.

Foreign policy isâwe've united the West in a way that it hadn't been in a while, including bringing in Japan and other Asian countries invested in Ukraine's future.

And Americans are starting to feel the effects of some of the laws we passed. And we haveâand they're only now going to be going into effect.

Like I saidâand the press has heard me say this beforeâwe're in a situation where we promised folks on Medicare their insulin was going to go from about 400 bucks a month to 35 bucks a month. And it was a promise. Well, guess what? As of January 1, it's a reality. And it'sâ and people are feeling the effects of it.

There's so much more of that out there. And we're going to discuss how we can continue to build on the progress, ultimately lowering the cost for middle class and working class families.

You know, weâand we've talked a lot about this around the table, with the folks here, that I decided this time outâand I think you all are in the same boatâI want the wealthy to continue to be able to do well, but look, I'm tired of trickle-down economics. I want to build this economy from the bottom up and the middle out. When that happens, poor folks have a shot, the middle class does well, and the wealthy never get hurt. They're doing just fine.

And so we also want to talk about the extreme Republican economic plans. Apparently, they're genuinely serious about cutting Social Security, cutting Medicare. And I love their 30- percent sales tax. [*Laughter*] That, we'llâI'mâwe want to talk a lot about that. But look, I have no intention of letting the Republicans wreck our economy, nor does anybody around this table, in my view.

And, again, we're going to speak about continuing our support for Ukraine. And it's an idea that has bipartisan support, like some of what we passed had bipartisan support.

And so we're going to speak about nominations going forward quickly.

And also, finally, our hearts are with the people of California. They've been in a rough, rough couple of days. I just got back from spending time with Gavin Newsom on the floods and the devastation that occurred. And then, on top of that, you see what's happened in California and theâwhat's happened to the Asian American community. It's been devastating.

ThisâtheâVice President is going to be going out, and I've been talking with Gavin Newsom and Judy Chu and Anna Eshoo and Hilda Solis. And we're working out a number of things that we can and are going to be doing.

So the bottom line here is that we've got a lot to talk about. And yesterday my buddy, Dianne Feinstein, reintroduced her Senate weaponâassault weapons ban. And I am asking you all to send that to my desk as quickly as you can. It's really needed badly.

And all of us are focused on working together to get things done. There's a lot to discuss.

And having said that, I thank the press for being here, and I'll talk to you later.

NOTE: The President spoke at 3:10 p.m. in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Gov. Gavin C. Newsom of California; Reps. Judy M. Chu and Rep. Anna

G. Eshoo; former Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis, in her capacity as a member of the Los Angeles County, CA, Board of Supervisors. Participating in the meeting were Vice President Kamala D. Harris; Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, Majority Whip Richard J. Durbin, and Democratic Caucus Policy and Communications Committee Chairwoman Sen. Deborah A. Stabenow; House Minority Leader Hakeem S. Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine M. Clark, and Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Peter R. Aguilar. Also attending were White House Chief of Staff Ronald A. Klain, Counselor Steve Ricchetti, and Director of Legislative Affairs Louisa M. Terrell.

Categories: Addresses and Remarks : Democratic congressional leaders, meeting with President. Locations: Washington, DC.

Names: Chu, Judy M.; Eshoo, Anna G.; Feinstein, Dianne; Harris, Kamala D.; Newsom, Gavin C.; Solis, Hilda L.

Subjects: California, flooding damage and recovery efforts; California, Governor; California, shooting in Monterey Park; Congress, Members, meetings with President; Economic improvement; Gun control efforts; Inflation; Insulin cost controls; Medicare and Medicaid programs; Russia, conflict in Ukraine; Social Security program; Ukraine, Russian invasion and airstrikes; Ukraine, U.S. assistance; Vice President.

DCPD Number: DCPD202300048.