President Sends Ramadan Greetings

Yesterday President Biden issued a Statement (full text) extending best wishes from himself and the First Lady to Muslims across the U.S. and around the world as they begin the holy month of Ramadan. The Statement says in part:

Today especially, we remember the universal human right to practice, pray, and preach our faiths peacefully and openly. And together with our partners, the United States stands in solidarity with Muslims who continue to face oppression—including Uyghurs in the People’s Republic of China, Rohingya in Burma, and other Muslim communities facing persecution around the world.

Presidential Proclamation Protects Sacred 500,000+ Acres in Nevada Under Antiquities Act

Yesterday, President Biden issued A Proclamation on Establishment of the Avi Kwa Ame National Monument (full text). The lengthy Proclamation sets aside 506,814 acres in southern Nevada, and items within that area, as protected under the Antiquities Act. The Proclamation reads in part:

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....

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 ... 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....

This entire landscape is an object of historic and scientific interest requiring protection under ... the "Antiquities Act".... As well as being an object itself, the landscape contains innumerable individual geologic features, archaeological sites, and havens for sensitive and threatened species... 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.

The White House also issued a Fact Sheet on the Proclamatioin. In another Proclamation issued yesterday, the President also created the Castner Range National Monument in El Paso, Texas. E&E News reports on these and related Presidential actions.

President Biden Sends Greeting To Those Celebrating Nowruz

Yesterday the White House issued a statement (full text) from President Biden and the First Lady extending best wishes to everyone celebrating Nowruz across the United States and around the world. Nowruz is the Persian New Year, celebrated in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, the Caucasus and parts of Europe. The Statement says in part:

This year, Nowruz comes at a difficult time for many families, when hope is needed more than ever—including for the women of Iran who are fighting for their human rights and fundamental freedoms. The United States will continue to stand with them, and all the citizens of Iran who are inspiring the world with their conviction and courage. And together with our partners, we will continue to hold Iranian officials accountable for their attacks against their people.

National Prayer Breakfast Held Yesterday

As reported by AP, the National Prayer Breakfast, attended by 450 invitees, was held yesterday in the Capitol's Visitor Center. As reported in an earlier AP article:

The National Prayer Breakfast, one of the most visible and long-standing events that brings religion and politics together in Washington, is splitting from the private religious group that had overseen it for decades, due to concerns the gathering had become too divisive.

The organizer and host for this year’s breakfast ... [was] the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation, headed by former Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark.

Sen. Chris Coons, a regular participant and chairman of the Senate ethics committee, said the move was prompted in part by concerns in recent years that members of Congress did not know important details about the larger multiday gathering.

President Biden spoke at this year's Breakfast. (Full text of remarks.) The prior sponsor of Prayer Breakfasts, the International Foundation, held its own gathering at the nearby Washington Hilton hotel at which attendees watched the President's remarks.  Some 1300 people attended that event.

Today Is International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day marking the 78th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi concentration camp. The commemorative day was established by United Nations General Assembly Resolution 60/7, adopted by the General Assembly in 2005.  A European Union press release describes the EU's commemoration activities. U.S. President Joe Biden issued a Statement (full text) marking the day.  He said in part:

Sadly, we have seen over and over again that hate never goes away. It only hides—waiting to reemerge whenever it is given just a little bit of oxygen. And today, across our country, we are seeing swastikas on cars, antisemitic banners on bridges, verbal and physical attacks against Jewish businesses and Jewish Americans – even Holocaust denialism. It’s vile. It goes against everything we value as Americans. And each of us must speak out against this poison. Together, we must affirm, over and over, that hate has no safe harbor in America. 

Biden Issues Memo On Access To Medical Abortion Drug

 On January 22, President Biden issued a Memorandum on Further Efforts to Protect Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services (full text).   It provides in part:

My Administration remains committed to supporting safe access to mifepristone, consistent with applicable law, and defending women’s fundamental freedoms.  Defending and protecting reproductive rights is essential to our Nation’s health, safety, and progress.  It is the policy of my Administration to protect against threats to the liberty and autonomy of those who live in this country.

Sec. 2.  Continuing to Protect Access to FDA-Approved Medication.  In light of recent developments and consistent with Executive Order 14076, within 60 days of the date of this memorandum:

     (a)  The Secretary of HHS, in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall consider:

(i)   issuing guidance for patients seeking legal access to mifepristone, as well as for providers and entities, including pharmacies, that provide reproductive healthcare and seek to legally prescribe and provide mifepristone; and

(ii)  any further actions, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to educate individuals on their ability to seek legal reproductive care, free from threats or violence.

Biden Renominates Persons To Be Commissioner and General Counsel of EEOC

With the convening of the 118th Congress yesterday, President Biden resubmitted a large number of nominations that had not been acted upon by the Senate last year. Among them were the nomination of Kalpana Kotagao to be a Member of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term expiring July 1, 2027, and Karla Ann Gilbride to be General Counsel of the EEOC for a four-year term. The EEOC enforces federal laws barring employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), age, disability or genetic information.

President Biden Delivers Christmas Address

Yesterday President Biden delivered his Christmas Address to the Nation (full text). He said in part:

And we look to the sky, to a lone star, shining brighter than all the rest, guiding us to the birth of a child — a child Christians believe to be the son of God; miraculously now, here among us on Earth, bringing hope, love and peace and joy to the world....

The Christmas story is at the heart of the Christmas — Christian faith.  But the message of hope, love, peace, and joy, they’re also universal.

It speaks to all of us, whether we’re Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or any other faith, or no faith at all.  It speaks to all of us as human beings who are here on this Earth to care for one another, to look out for one another, to love one another....

I sincerely hope ... this holiday season will drain the poison that has infected our politics and set us against one another.

I hope this Christmas season marks a fresh start for our nation, because there is so much that unites us as Americans, so much more that unites us than divides us.

President Speaks at White House Hanukkah Reception

On Monday, President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden hosted a Hanukkah Holiday Reception at the White House. The White House released a transcript of remarks at the reception by the Bidens and by Rabbi Charlie Cytron-Walker who last January was held as a hostage by a gunman in his Temple in Colleyville, Texas. President Biden said in part:

Tonight, we’re honored to mark another new tradition we’re establishing tonight. And that is the lighting of what will be the first-ever permanent White House menorah. (Applause.) It will also be the first Jewish artifact in the entire White House collection. (Applause.)...

This year’s Hanukkah ... arrives in the midst of rising emboldenment of antisemitism at home and, quite frankly, around the world.

I recognize your fear, your hurt, your worry that this vile and venom is becoming too normal.

As your President, I want to make this clear — as my dad would say, and many of you have said: Silence is complicity. We must not remain silent. (Applause.)

And I made no bones about it from the very beginning: I will not be silent. America will not be silent. (Applause.) I mean it....

Like this White House menorah, our commitment to the safety of the Jewish people and to the vibrancy of Jewish life that’s tightly woven into every fabric of America, it’s permanent. Permanent.

The menorah was made from historic wood beams rescued during a White House renovation by President Truman.

White House Creates Inter-Agency Group to Counter Anitsemitism

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre yesterday announced the formation of an inter-agency anti-bias task force whose first priority is developing a national strategy to combat antisemitism.  Her Statement (full text) said in part:

The President is establishing an inter-agency group led by Domestic Policy Council staff and National Security Council staff to increase and better coordinate U.S. Government efforts to counter antisemitism, Islamophobia, and related forms of bias and discrimination within the United States. The President has tasked the inter-agency group, as its first order of business, to develop a national strategy to counter antisemitism. This strategy will raise understanding about antisemitism and the threat it poses to the Jewish community and all Americans, address antisemitic harassment and abuse both online and offline, seek to prevent antisemitic attacks and incidents, and encourage whole-of-society efforts to counter antisemitism and build a more inclusive nation.

The Hill reports on this development.

Human Rights Day/ Week

Yesterday was Human Rights Day and this week is Human Rights Week.  On Friday, President Biden issued a Presidential Proclamation (full text) recognizing the dates. December 10 is the anniversary of the U.N.'s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Presidential Proclamation reads in part:

Around the world — from China to Burma, Afghanistan to Iran, Ethiopia to Ukraine, and beyond — courageous people are standing up to abuses of power, staying strong amid threats to their lives, and speaking out against violations of their fundamental freedoms. 

The United States stands fully with these brave women and men fighting for their basic human rights in the face of oppression and injustice — and we always will.  That is why we moved to rejoin the United Nations Human Rights Council in 2021 and reassert our moral leadership on the global stage.  It is why my Administration is amplifying the voices of religious, racial, and ethnic minorities; women and girls; LGBTQI+ communities; persons with disabilities; and pro-democracy activists and defenders, who are too often targeted by violence or denied equal protection under the law.

President Biden Issues Thanksgiving Proclamation

President Biden yesterday issued a Proclamation (full text) declaring today as a National Day of Thanksgiving.  The Proclamation reads in part:

We are grateful for our family and friends and for all of our fellow Americans, even those whom we may never meet but rely upon nonetheless.  We are thankful for the scientists, researchers, doctors, and nurses who have kept us safe through a pandemic, and for the frontline workers who have kept essential services going by growing and providing food for our tables.  We are grateful to faith leaders for their counsel, comfort, and support.  We thank our brave service members and veterans who sacrifice so much for our freedom, and the first responders who put so much on the line to keep us all safe. 

As Scripture says:  “let us rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”  This is a special time in the greatest country on Earth, so let us be grateful.  America is a great Nation because we are a good people.  This holiday, we celebrate all that brings us together, grounded in history and our shared hopes for the future.

President Biden Issues Statement on Transgender Day of Remembrance

The White House today released a statement (full text) from President Biden on Transgender Day of Remembrance. The Statement says in part:

On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the 32 transgender Americans known to have been taken from us this year by horrific acts of brutality. The true toll is likely much higher, with Black and brown transgender women disproportionately targeted.

In the face of this ongoing assault, my Administration remains deeply committed to strengthening the rights of LGBTQI+ Americans, including transgender Americans. Since taking office, we have made it possible for transgender service members to once again serve proudly and openly in our military, improved the travel experience for transgender Americans, and provided resources to support the mental health of transgender kids and their families.... I continue to urge state leaders to combat the disturbing wave of discriminatory state laws targeting young transgender Americans—legislation that hurts young people who aren’t hurting anyone. With Congress poised to pass the bipartisan Respect For Marriage Act, I also reiterate my call for them to likewise pass the Equality Act and provide long overdue protections to transgender and all LGBTQI+ Americans.

Biden Calls For Federal Law Protecting Abortion Rights

In a talk (full text) at a political event at the Howard Theater in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, President Biden called for a federal law protecting abortion rights.  He said in part:

And I’ve said before: The Court got Roe right nearly 50 years ago, and I believe Congress should codify Roe once and for all....

Right now, we’re short a handful of votes.  If you care about the right to choose, then you got to vote.  That’s why, in these midterm elections, it’s so critical to elect more Democratic senators to the United States Senate and more Democrats to keep control of the House of Representatives....

And, folks, if we do that, here is the promise I make to you and the American people: The first bill that I will send to the Congress will be to codify Roe v. Wade....  And when Congress passes it, I’ll sign it in January, 50 years after Roe was first decided the law of the land.,,,

President Biden Sends Rosh Hashana Greetings

The Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana begins at sundown this evening. President Biden today issued a statement (full text) sending warm wishes from Jill and himself to everyone in the United States, Israel and around the world celebrating the holiday. He said in part:

Just as individuals can seek renewal, so too can nations. This past year has seen encouraging progress for our nation.... With COVID-19 no longer the same disruptive threat it was, families can once more gather around the Rosh Hashanah dinner table and sit together in their synagogues. 

At the same time, we have much more work to do to realize the values that bind us as Americans and to restore the soul of our nation.

White House Hosts Summit Addressing Hate-Motivated Violence

Yesterday President Biden hosted the United We Stand Summit at the White House directed at countering hate-motivated violence. The President spoke at the Summit for nearly 25 minutes (full text of remarks), calling on Congress to pass budget increases to protect nonprofits and houses of worship from hate-fueled violence, and to pass legislation to hold social media platforms accountable for spreading hate-fueled violence. He said in part:

There is a through-line of hate from massacres of Indigenous people, to the original sin of slavery, the terror of the Klan, to ... anti-immigration violence against the Irish, Italians, Chinese, Mexicans, and so many others laced throughout our history.

There is a through-line of violence against religious groups: antisemitic, anti-Catholic, anti-Mormon, anti-Muslim, anti-Hindu, anti-Sikh.

Look, folks, and that through-line of hate never fully goes away.  It only hides.

The White House also issued a Fact Sheet on the Summit, announcing a number of new government and private initiatives to address hate-fueled violence. Several clergy were among the "Uniters" honored at the Summit.

Biden Issues Executive Order On Access To Reproductive Health Care Services

Yesterday, President Biden issued an Executive Order on Securing Access to Reproductive and Other Healthcare Services (full text). The White House also issued a Fact Sheet explaining the Executive Order.  The Executive Order reads in part:

There have been numerous reports of women denied health- and life-saving emergency care, as providers fearful of legal reprisal delay necessary treatment for patients until their conditions worsen to dangerous levels.  There are also reports of women of reproductive age being denied prescription medication at pharmacies — including medication that is used to treat stomach ulcers, lupus, arthritis, and cancer — due to concerns that these medications, some of which can be used in medication abortions, could be used to terminate a pregnancy.  Reportedly, a healthcare provider, citing a State law restricting abortion, even temporarily stopped providing emergency contraception.

As it remains the policy of my Administration to support women’s access to reproductive healthcare services, including their ability to travel to seek abortion care in States where it is legal, I am directing my Administration to take further action to protect access to reproductive healthcare services and to address the crisis facing women’s health and public health more broadly.

The Executive Order among other things directs the HHS Secretary to advance access to Medicaid coverage for patients traveling across state lines for medical care. It also directs the Secretary to promote compliance with non-discrimination laws in obtaining medical care. 

President's Executive Order On Reproductive Health Care

Here is the full text of President Biden's Executive Order on Protecting Access to Reproductive Healthcare Services issued last Friday. It calls on the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to the President on ways to protect access to reproductive health care. It also calls for the Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Homeland Security to consider or implement certain additional steps to protect access and protect privacy rights.

Biden's Send Greetings To Those Celebrating Eid al-Adha

Yesterday the Muslim world celebrated Eid al-Adha. Yesterday the White House issued a Statement (full text) from the President sending greetings from himself and Jill Biden to all of those celebrating the festival.  The Statement says in part:

The Eid traditions and Hajj rituals that commemorate the devotion of Abraham and his son to God are an opportunity for Muslims to renew their faith, and a reminder of the common roots of the world’s great Abrahamic religions. And the act of sharing the sacrifice with those less fortunate in service of God mirrors our common commitment to work together to meet the challenges of our world today.

Two Religious Figures Among Recipients Of Presidential Medal of Freedom

Yesterday at the White House, President Biden awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to 17 individuals. (List of all recipients). Among the recipients were: (1)  Sister Simone Campbell, a member of the Sisters of Social Service and former Executive Director of NETWORK, a Catholic social justice organization; and (2) Father Alexander Karloutsos, former Vicar General of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America and counselor to several U.S. Presidents. 

Sister Campbell gained national attention in  2010 as author of the "nun's letter" in support of health care reform legislation, while the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposed the bill.