WEBVTT 00:05.070 --> 00:06.570 Good afternoon everybody . 00:08.150 --> 00:11.020 Okay so today in the press briefing we 00:11.020 --> 00:13.187 are saying goodbye to two . Our of our 00:13.187 --> 00:15.242 amazing interns I think they're here 00:15.242 --> 00:18.700 somewhere . Ah there you go . Uh Kait 00:18.700 --> 00:21.360 Howell and molly Feldman . They have 00:21.360 --> 00:23.890 been great great additions to additions 00:23.890 --> 00:26.112 to our team these past several months . 00:26.112 --> 00:28.223 And they are now going back to school 00:28.223 --> 00:30.334 hopefully enjoying the holiday before 00:30.334 --> 00:32.446 you go back to school . But thank you 00:32.446 --> 00:34.612 so much for your hard work . And today 00:34.612 --> 00:36.834 we have a familiar face with us to talk 00:36.834 --> 00:38.668 about how the President's winter 00:38.668 --> 00:42.170 preparedness plan on Covid 19 increases 00:42.170 --> 00:44.950 as Covid 19 increases as the holiday as 00:44.950 --> 00:47.061 we head into the holidays . And so dr 00:47.061 --> 00:49.283 Jha is here to talk about this plan and 00:49.283 --> 00:51.450 take some questions as well . Doctor . 00:53.370 --> 00:55.537 Thank you . K . J . P . Good afternoon 00:55.537 --> 00:58.140 everyone . Um Good to be with all of 00:58.140 --> 01:01.140 you again . As expected we're seeing 01:01.150 --> 01:03.280 Covid rising across the country this 01:03.280 --> 01:05.820 winter . And while Covid isn't the 01:05.820 --> 01:08.900 disruptive force it once was . We are 01:08.900 --> 01:11.460 focused on ensuring that the U . S . Is 01:11.460 --> 01:13.980 prepared for this winter no matter what 01:13.980 --> 01:16.880 the virus throws at us . As you know we 01:16.880 --> 01:18.380 have the tools we have the 01:18.380 --> 01:20.950 infrastructure and we have the know how 01:20.960 --> 01:23.700 to manage this moment . And that means 01:23.700 --> 01:25.390 protecting people preventing 01:25.390 --> 01:27.570 hospitalizations and deaths . And the 01:27.570 --> 01:31.030 key is this we don't want this 01:31.030 --> 01:33.870 winter to look like last winter or the 01:33.870 --> 01:37.170 winter before . And our winter Covid 19 01:37.170 --> 01:39.860 preparedness plan helps us do just that . 01:39.870 --> 01:42.850 So how do we do that first ? And you're 01:42.850 --> 01:44.961 not gonna be surprised to hear me say 01:44.961 --> 01:46.739 this . The most important thing 01:46.739 --> 01:48.910 americans can do is to go get their 01:48.910 --> 01:51.960 updated Covid 19 vaccine right away now 01:51.960 --> 01:53.849 you heard this from dr Fauci just 01:53.849 --> 01:56.071 before Thanksgiving you heard this from 01:56.071 --> 01:57.904 me and I will repeat again . The 01:57.904 --> 02:00.016 updated Covid 19 vaccine is your best 02:00.016 --> 02:02.349 protection against the version of Covid . 02:02.349 --> 02:05.070 We're fighting right now . Second , a 02:05.070 --> 02:07.181 critical component of our winter plan 02:07.181 --> 02:09.348 is making it even easier for americans 02:09.348 --> 02:11.459 to access the tools that will protect 02:11.459 --> 02:13.700 them this holiday season vaccines , 02:13.710 --> 02:16.100 tests and treatments . So let's talk 02:16.100 --> 02:18.260 about tests today . We're opening up 02:18.260 --> 02:20.560 Covid test dot gov for a limited time 02:20.560 --> 02:23.150 this winter to give americans another 02:23.150 --> 02:25.970 easy option to access testing when 02:25.970 --> 02:27.970 there is a greater need as there is 02:27.970 --> 02:30.026 right now , starting today , each us 02:30.026 --> 02:32.192 household can order up to four at home 02:32.192 --> 02:34.800 tests free from Covid test dot gov . 02:34.860 --> 02:37.082 With tests starting to ship as early as 02:37.082 --> 02:39.520 next week , The Week of December 19 . 02:40.200 --> 02:42.990 And as we've said for months we're 02:43.000 --> 02:45.320 operating in a resource constrained 02:45.320 --> 02:47.650 environment . In the absence of 02:47.650 --> 02:49.706 additional congressional funding for 02:49.706 --> 02:51.872 the nation's covid response . And that 02:51.872 --> 02:53.817 means we've had to make some tough 02:53.817 --> 02:55.761 choices like in the summer we were 02:55.761 --> 02:57.817 forced to suspend the Covid test dot 02:57.817 --> 02:59.983 Gov program . So we could preserve our 02:59.983 --> 03:02.280 tests . Why did we want to preserve our 03:02.280 --> 03:04.447 tests ? Because we knew there would be 03:04.447 --> 03:07.240 a moment later in the year when Covid 03:07.240 --> 03:10.110 cases would rise again . So we kept we 03:10.110 --> 03:12.110 preserved the test so we could have 03:12.110 --> 03:14.660 them on hand for exactly this moment . 03:15.530 --> 03:18.050 And if we don't get more funding , we 03:18.050 --> 03:20.272 won't be able to send more tests out to 03:20.272 --> 03:23.300 the american people . Uh Next we're 03:23.300 --> 03:25.356 standing ready to support states and 03:25.356 --> 03:27.300 communities with medical personnel 03:27.300 --> 03:29.460 supplies and other resources as the 03:29.460 --> 03:31.571 president has been committed to doing 03:31.571 --> 03:33.516 since the first day he took office 03:33.516 --> 03:35.910 today , Secretary Becerra is sending 03:35.910 --> 03:37.577 out a letter to all governors 03:37.577 --> 03:39.850 underscoring that our partnership with 03:39.850 --> 03:41.910 state and local leaders has been 03:41.910 --> 03:44.610 essential to fighting this virus . But 03:44.610 --> 03:46.721 the Secretary also made clear we need 03:46.721 --> 03:49.520 them to step up right now to get ahead 03:49.530 --> 03:51.641 of this increase in covid that we are 03:51.641 --> 03:53.586 seeing across the country . And he 03:53.586 --> 03:55.641 outlined all of the federal supports 03:55.641 --> 03:57.697 available to set up more vaccination 03:57.697 --> 03:59.919 sites , more pop up clinics to get more 03:59.919 --> 04:01.752 shots in arms to expand tests to 04:01.752 --> 04:03.880 treatment programs including new test 04:03.880 --> 04:05.991 to treat programs that sites that are 04:05.991 --> 04:08.047 that the federal government can help 04:08.047 --> 04:10.213 with to make key supplies like at home 04:10.213 --> 04:12.380 tests widely available and things that 04:12.380 --> 04:14.213 the federal government can do to 04:14.213 --> 04:16.436 support hospitals and health systems as 04:16.436 --> 04:18.547 needs arise . Because the bottom line 04:18.547 --> 04:21.150 is this , we're all in this together . 04:21.160 --> 04:24.080 Fourth , we are accelerating our 04:24.080 --> 04:26.080 efforts to protect the highest risk 04:26.080 --> 04:28.247 americans building on the considerable 04:28.247 --> 04:30.470 steps we have taken . Now , I want to 04:30.470 --> 04:32.740 remind everybody that more than 90% of 04:32.740 --> 04:34.962 COVID deaths in the us have occurred in 04:34.962 --> 04:37.184 people , 50 years of age or older . And 04:37.184 --> 04:39.600 in recent months we've seen COVID 04:39.600 --> 04:41.910 deaths really concentrated among those 04:41.910 --> 04:45.030 65 and above . And while we've seen 04:45.030 --> 04:47.086 many older americans step up and get 04:47.086 --> 04:49.150 the updated covid vaccine , there's 04:49.150 --> 04:51.660 still too many older americans who have 04:51.660 --> 04:53.882 not gotten their immunity updated , who 04:53.882 --> 04:55.938 have not gotten themselves protected 04:55.938 --> 04:57.993 under half of nursing home residents 04:57.993 --> 05:00.327 have gotten their updated covid vaccine . 05:00.327 --> 05:02.327 So we are working very closely with 05:02.327 --> 05:04.271 leadership of nursing homes across 05:04.271 --> 05:06.438 America and we have asked them to step 05:06.438 --> 05:08.327 up to do more . We've developed a 05:08.327 --> 05:10.438 winter playbook for nursing homes and 05:10.438 --> 05:12.604 long term care facilities to help them 05:12.604 --> 05:14.660 take action to make it easier to get 05:14.660 --> 05:16.716 vaccines on site in nursing homes to 05:16.716 --> 05:18.938 make sure that treatments are available 05:18.938 --> 05:20.938 on site in nursing homes to improve 05:20.938 --> 05:23.049 indoor air quality . Another strategy 05:23.049 --> 05:25.271 that can make a really big difference . 05:25.271 --> 05:27.327 And we are reaching out to governors 05:27.327 --> 05:29.382 where nursing home vaccination rates 05:29.382 --> 05:29.280 are low to offer personalized support 05:29.960 --> 05:32.071 before taking your questions . Let me 05:32.071 --> 05:34.500 close with this . We don't want this 05:34.500 --> 05:36.667 winter to look like last winter or the 05:36.667 --> 05:39.330 winter before and it doesn't have to 05:39.920 --> 05:42.220 what's different is that we have an 05:42.230 --> 05:44.063 updated vaccine that targets the 05:44.063 --> 05:46.119 version of the virus were fighting . 05:46.119 --> 05:48.397 But we need people to get that vaccine , 05:48.397 --> 05:51.370 it's free and widely available . We , 05:51.380 --> 05:53.491 what's different this winter compared 05:53.491 --> 05:55.324 to last winter is we have highly 05:55.324 --> 05:57.380 effective treatments that are widely 05:57.380 --> 05:59.400 available if people get sick . But 05:59.400 --> 06:01.567 obviously we need doctors to prescribe 06:01.567 --> 06:03.733 them . We need people to get them this 06:03.733 --> 06:05.956 winter we can keep people safe . We can 06:05.956 --> 06:08.067 prevent hospitalizations and deaths . 06:08.067 --> 06:09.956 We can minimize disruptions . The 06:09.956 --> 06:11.900 administration has been , has been 06:11.900 --> 06:14.122 planning for this moment . We are doing 06:14.122 --> 06:16.122 our part . We're prepared . But the 06:16.122 --> 06:18.344 bottom line is we need other leaders to 06:18.344 --> 06:20.511 step up as well . Governors , mayors , 06:20.511 --> 06:22.678 people who have been terrific partners 06:22.678 --> 06:24.789 throughout this entire pandemic . But 06:24.789 --> 06:26.844 here's what I know if every american 06:26.844 --> 06:28.956 does their part , every american goes 06:28.956 --> 06:31.011 out and gets an updated vaccine . If 06:31.011 --> 06:32.900 every american gets treated who's 06:32.900 --> 06:35.067 eligible for treatment , we can have a 06:35.067 --> 06:37.360 very different winter ahead . And that 06:37.370 --> 06:39.570 is the goal of this effort . So with 06:39.570 --> 06:41.903 that let me stop . Take questions and K . 06:41.903 --> 06:43.848 J . P . I'll turn it back to you . 06:43.890 --> 06:47.760 Thank you dr moving out from the 06:47.770 --> 06:49.714 U . S . Orders for just a second . 06:49.714 --> 06:53.130 Certainly one of the risks that faces 06:53.140 --> 06:55.910 this nation is additional spread from a 06:55.920 --> 06:58.340 big outbreak in china . Can you give us 06:58.340 --> 07:00.062 a sense of whether the U . S . 07:00.062 --> 07:02.340 Government was aware or made aware in 07:02.340 --> 07:04.910 advance that would be would be made 07:04.910 --> 07:07.021 available in china . And can you give 07:07.021 --> 07:08.743 us any sense of what talks are 07:08.743 --> 07:10.910 happening behind the scenes behind the 07:10.910 --> 07:12.799 scenes rather to help get Western 07:12.799 --> 07:15.077 vaccines and medicines to that country ? 07:15.077 --> 07:17.354 So on . The specific question of Paxil , 07:17.354 --> 07:19.299 did the U . S . Government was not 07:19.299 --> 07:21.188 involved in any way uh And it was 07:21.188 --> 07:23.790 really refer you to fight sir . Um And 07:23.790 --> 07:26.012 but we were not involved in that in any 07:26.012 --> 07:27.957 way , shape or form on the broader 07:27.957 --> 07:29.957 question you're raising Jeff what I 07:29.957 --> 07:31.846 would say is this ? And since the 07:31.846 --> 07:33.901 beginning of this administration the 07:33.901 --> 07:36.012 president has been very clear that we 07:36.012 --> 07:38.330 think it's really important for the 07:38.330 --> 07:40.552 world to benefit from the fruits of the 07:40.552 --> 07:42.719 of American scientific innovation . Um 07:42.719 --> 07:44.608 we have been the largest donor of 07:44.608 --> 07:46.552 vaccines in the world . Almost 700 07:46.552 --> 07:48.441 million doses many bilateral many 07:48.441 --> 07:50.441 through covax . And the president's 07:50.441 --> 07:52.441 been very clear . We stand ready to 07:52.441 --> 07:55.040 help any country that needs help uh in 07:55.040 --> 07:57.262 terms of vaccines treatments . Anything 07:57.262 --> 08:00.970 else ? So uh that that offer stands 08:00.970 --> 08:02.970 globally for any country that could 08:02.970 --> 08:05.800 benefit from characterized this as the 08:05.800 --> 08:08.260 U . S . And other western countries are 08:08.260 --> 08:10.650 encouraging china to import M . RNA 08:10.650 --> 08:14.300 vaccines but not necessarily with us or 08:14.300 --> 08:16.467 strong U . S . Involvement . Does that 08:16.467 --> 08:18.689 give them cover that They need ? What I 08:18.689 --> 08:20.911 would say is we stand ready to help any 08:20.911 --> 08:22.856 country in the world with vaccines 08:22.856 --> 08:25.022 treatments . Anything else that we can 08:25.022 --> 08:24.970 be helpful with ? We have been the 08:24.970 --> 08:26.970 biggest donor of vaccines as it's 08:26.970 --> 08:30.750 almost 700 million doses . Uh and that 08:30.760 --> 08:33.260 that stance of being helpful being 08:33.260 --> 08:35.450 ready to help uh continues and hasn't 08:35.450 --> 08:39.270 changed dr looking at the 08:39.270 --> 08:41.437 most recent covid numbers we have . It 08:41.437 --> 08:44.440 looks like covid cases were up 45 or 08:44.450 --> 08:47.240 50% week over week last week . But 08:47.250 --> 08:50.270 covid deaths were up 60% . Why are 08:50.280 --> 08:52.470 covid , why are covid deaths spiking 08:52.480 --> 08:54.930 more dramatically than covid cases are ? 08:54.940 --> 08:57.051 Yeah , it's a good question . So some 08:57.051 --> 08:58.662 of that is by the way , data 08:58.662 --> 09:00.718 irregularity . Just to be clear data 09:00.718 --> 09:02.773 it's just we're in a different place 09:02.773 --> 09:04.996 with data . We get data less often . Um 09:04.996 --> 09:07.162 So in general we have seen covid cases 09:07.162 --> 09:07.120 go up . We've seen hospitalizations go 09:07.120 --> 09:09.600 up . Um deaths are just starting to 09:09.600 --> 09:12.640 rise . Um I do think that that standard 09:12.640 --> 09:14.529 link we've seen between cases and 09:14.529 --> 09:16.529 deaths are gonna be different cause 09:16.529 --> 09:18.640 there's less testing . So we're gonna 09:18.640 --> 09:20.807 be it's gonna be later to see cases go 09:20.807 --> 09:22.696 up . But so far nationally in our 09:22.696 --> 09:24.751 analysis of the data , death numbers 09:24.751 --> 09:26.529 are just beginning to rise . We 09:26.529 --> 09:28.640 obviously want to make sure that does 09:28.640 --> 09:30.640 not go any further . We know we can 09:30.640 --> 09:32.751 prevent nearly every death from covid 09:32.751 --> 09:32.380 if people get the updated vaccines and 09:32.380 --> 09:34.860 people get treated . So we continue to 09:34.870 --> 09:36.481 press that message . Are you 09:36.481 --> 09:38.660 considering a return to other 09:38.660 --> 09:41.220 restrictions ? You know , masking on 09:41.220 --> 09:44.380 planes , vaccine requirements . So I 09:44.380 --> 09:46.491 think we're in a very different place 09:46.491 --> 09:48.602 with this virus and where we were two 09:48.602 --> 09:50.602 years ago where we were last year . 09:50.602 --> 09:52.602 What I would say is we now have the 09:52.602 --> 09:54.824 tools that we can manage our lives much 09:54.824 --> 09:56.936 more safely than we could a couple of 09:56.936 --> 09:58.880 years ago . And the most important 09:58.880 --> 10:00.991 thing I think people need to be doing 10:00.991 --> 09:59.940 is first of all , they've got to get 09:59.940 --> 10:01.829 their updated vaccines . And then 10:01.829 --> 10:03.773 there's a whole host of tools that 10:03.773 --> 10:05.996 people can use to keep themselves their 10:05.996 --> 10:07.773 families safe testing masking , 10:07.773 --> 10:09.996 improving indoor air quality , being in 10:09.996 --> 10:12.620 better ventilated places . Um Oh and 10:12.620 --> 10:15.430 treatments of course . So we think that 10:15.430 --> 10:17.541 is the strategy of the administration 10:17.541 --> 10:19.763 that we want to encourage people to use 10:19.763 --> 10:21.819 those tools and given how widespread 10:21.819 --> 10:23.986 and how available those tools are . Um 10:23.986 --> 10:26.208 I think if people did that we could get 10:26.208 --> 10:29.220 through this winter safely Um doctor 10:29.230 --> 10:32.100 just to follow up on Jeff's question uh 10:32.110 --> 10:34.490 with China relaxing the 04 policies , 10:34.500 --> 10:36.740 what specific contingency plans do the 10:36.750 --> 10:39.790 administration have um to deal with a 10:39.790 --> 10:41.960 potential outbreak or new variants , 10:41.970 --> 10:43.859 particularly with the increase of 10:43.859 --> 10:46.026 travel between the us and China during 10:46.026 --> 10:48.303 the holidays and in the lunar new year ? 10:48.303 --> 10:50.500 Um and do those considerations at this 10:50.500 --> 10:53.070 point include any talks of a travel ban ? 10:53.960 --> 10:57.800 Yeah , so um we have a very robust 10:57.800 --> 10:59.967 surveillance program that where we use 10:59.967 --> 11:01.911 for travelers as people come in in 11:01.911 --> 11:03.689 terms of identifying people who 11:03.689 --> 11:06.070 infected tracking variants uh that 11:06.070 --> 11:09.930 continues um and we generally 11:09.930 --> 11:11.763 are using wastewater using other 11:11.763 --> 11:13.819 mechanisms constantly monitoring for 11:13.819 --> 11:15.986 variants both here as well as with our 11:15.986 --> 11:18.208 partners around the world in europe and 11:18.208 --> 11:20.370 in South Africa in other places . I 11:20.370 --> 11:22.592 think all of that is a really important 11:22.592 --> 11:24.592 part of how we have become far more 11:24.592 --> 11:26.592 effective at being prepared for new 11:26.592 --> 11:28.759 variants and if there are new variants 11:28.759 --> 11:30.759 that emerge , I'm confident that we 11:30.759 --> 11:33.330 will be able to identify them doctors . 11:33.330 --> 11:35.440 Are we still facing a triple dynamic 11:35.440 --> 11:38.620 where RsV flu and covid are all surging 11:38.620 --> 11:41.580 at once over the holidays . So we we 11:41.580 --> 11:43.691 have seen certainly in the last month 11:43.691 --> 11:45.691 three highly contagious respiratory 11:45.691 --> 11:48.120 viruses . Um as you mentioned RsV flu 11:48.120 --> 11:50.120 and Covid , let me tell you what we 11:50.120 --> 11:52.287 know about them . RsV nationally looks 11:52.287 --> 11:54.453 like it has clearly peaked and it's on 11:54.453 --> 11:56.620 its way down . Um there's still places 11:56.620 --> 11:58.509 that have very high levels of RsV 11:58.509 --> 12:00.731 you're still but but nationally there's 12:00.731 --> 12:02.953 no question in my mind . RsV is heading 12:02.953 --> 12:05.230 down , You know , flu is rising in many 12:05.230 --> 12:07.397 parts of the country were probably the 12:07.397 --> 12:09.341 worst flu outbreak we've seen in a 12:09.341 --> 12:11.563 decade . Um there uh and there are some 12:11.563 --> 12:13.619 places where the flu maybe peaking , 12:13.619 --> 12:15.730 but it's very early data but a lot of 12:15.730 --> 12:17.730 flew out there again the worst in a 12:17.730 --> 12:19.841 decade and then we talked about Covid 12:19.841 --> 12:21.952 where clearly it's on an upswing with 12:21.952 --> 12:24.174 increasing number of cases . One of the 12:24.174 --> 12:26.063 questions back in september , the 12:26.063 --> 12:27.897 President publicly said that the 12:27.897 --> 12:29.674 pandemic is over . How has that 12:29.674 --> 12:31.563 complicated the messaging to keep 12:31.563 --> 12:33.786 americans vigilant facing covid ? Yes , 12:33.786 --> 12:35.730 I think the President is also very 12:35.730 --> 12:37.786 clear that Covid is not over . Covid 12:37.786 --> 12:39.952 continues to pose a challenge for us . 12:39.952 --> 12:42.205 Um that is true . Covid is not over and 12:42.205 --> 12:44.427 and obviously we continue to see people 12:44.427 --> 12:46.205 getting infected getting sick . 12:46.205 --> 12:48.038 Unfortunately too many americans 12:48.038 --> 12:50.261 needlessly dying of Covid . Uh and so I 12:50.261 --> 12:52.483 think the President has been very clear 12:52.483 --> 12:54.594 on this even since that day about the 12:54.594 --> 12:56.816 importance of people getting vaccinated 12:56.816 --> 12:58.983 people getting treated . And obviously 12:58.983 --> 12:58.095 I've been out here making that same 12:58.095 --> 13:01.990 message dr thank you . Um to two 13:01.990 --> 13:03.934 questions . One is there are there 13:03.934 --> 13:06.157 particular hot spots right now ? You're 13:06.157 --> 13:08.323 concerned about when it comes to covid 13:08.323 --> 13:10.546 rise ? And then secondly , based on all 13:10.546 --> 13:12.379 three of the viruses you've been 13:12.379 --> 13:12.190 discussing , you talk to us about the 13:12.190 --> 13:15.340 strain on the nation's hospitals . Um 13:15.350 --> 13:17.406 So particular hospice , we're seeing 13:17.406 --> 13:19.350 cases increase in about 90% of the 13:19.350 --> 13:21.239 country . So it is really sort of 13:21.239 --> 13:23.239 rising in lots of places across the 13:23.239 --> 13:25.294 country . Um So there's not one that 13:25.294 --> 13:27.017 I'm I think is you know , it's 13:27.017 --> 13:29.590 particularly uh worse off . Obviously 13:29.590 --> 13:31.534 the very , you know the levels are 13:31.534 --> 13:33.701 different across the country but it is 13:33.701 --> 13:35.701 rising pretty much uniformly and it 13:35.701 --> 13:37.868 makes sense . Right ? We just have the 13:37.868 --> 13:37.210 thanksgiving holidays , it's getting 13:37.210 --> 13:39.377 colder . Even in the southern parts of 13:39.377 --> 13:41.488 the country is still getting colder . 13:41.488 --> 13:41.410 Obviously we tend to see more in the 13:41.410 --> 13:43.632 northern half of the country because it 13:43.632 --> 13:45.854 is colder up here . People are spending 13:45.854 --> 13:48.021 more time Indoors in terms of hospital 13:48.021 --> 13:47.130 strain . This is something we've 13:47.130 --> 13:49.440 monitored very very closely . We look 13:49.440 --> 13:51.662 at a whole bunch of national data every 13:51.662 --> 13:53.607 day . We are talking to states and 13:53.607 --> 13:55.551 jurisdictions every day that every 13:55.551 --> 13:55.450 state and every jurisdiction every day . 13:55.450 --> 13:57.790 But on an ongoing basis , I would say 13:57.790 --> 13:59.901 in the last 10 days , I have probably 13:59.901 --> 14:02.012 spoken to I or members of my team , a 14:02.012 --> 14:04.123 dozen or more states and cities and , 14:04.123 --> 14:06.012 and our first question is how the 14:06.012 --> 14:08.068 hospital is doing . Do you need more 14:08.068 --> 14:10.346 help there ? We have a very clear plan . 14:10.346 --> 14:12.346 Uh , if a city or a state gets into 14:12.346 --> 14:14.401 trouble where they really just can't 14:14.401 --> 14:16.457 manage uh that they can reach out to 14:16.457 --> 14:16.330 the federal government . We have a 14:16.330 --> 14:18.274 whole set of resources that we can 14:18.274 --> 14:20.386 value it . We can send in equipment , 14:20.386 --> 14:22.552 we can send in personnel . So we stand 14:22.552 --> 14:24.719 ready to help cities and states if and 14:24.719 --> 14:27.510 or when they need it . Um , Obviously 14:27.520 --> 14:29.687 the single most important thing we can 14:29.687 --> 14:31.576 do to make sure that there aren't 14:31.576 --> 14:33.742 constraints . Uh and there aren't real 14:33.742 --> 14:35.964 problems with hospital capacity is that 14:35.964 --> 14:38.020 people got vaccinated . They are far 14:38.020 --> 14:40.020 less likely to get hospitalized for 14:40.020 --> 14:39.830 both flu and covid . And that's the 14:39.830 --> 14:41.997 biggest thing americans can do to make 14:41.997 --> 14:44.219 sure their hospitals are functional for 14:44.219 --> 14:45.997 all the other reasons we need , 14:45.997 --> 14:48.163 hospitals are concerned that americans 14:48.163 --> 14:50.386 who are testing positive , but doing so 14:50.386 --> 14:52.905 on at home rapid test are reporting 14:52.905 --> 14:54.961 that to government agencies . So the 14:54.961 --> 14:56.785 case counts right now might be 14:56.795 --> 14:58.739 dramatically lower than what we're 14:58.739 --> 15:00.851 actually seeing for spread across the 15:00.851 --> 15:03.073 country . It's a really good question . 15:03.073 --> 15:05.239 What I would say is first of all , I'm 15:05.239 --> 15:05.025 a huge fan of home tests . I think 15:05.035 --> 15:07.091 they're convenient . They're cheap . 15:07.091 --> 15:09.775 It's great . One of the problems of , 15:09.785 --> 15:12.007 of home test really , the major problem 15:12.007 --> 15:14.229 is that they don't often get reported . 15:14.229 --> 15:16.341 So we do have through this NIH effort 15:16.341 --> 15:18.341 called make my test count dot gov I 15:18.341 --> 15:20.452 think um that people can report their 15:20.452 --> 15:22.563 tests but we have other mechanisms we 15:22.563 --> 15:24.618 use to monitor infection levels . So 15:24.618 --> 15:26.729 for instance wastewater gives us very 15:26.729 --> 15:28.841 good insights into how much infection 15:28.841 --> 15:31.007 there is in the community . So we have 15:31.007 --> 15:33.118 seen case numbers often be lower than 15:33.118 --> 15:35.174 what you might expect if people were 15:35.174 --> 15:37.174 doing more pcr tests or more public 15:37.174 --> 15:39.063 health tests . But we're tracking 15:39.063 --> 15:41.285 infections through other mechanisms and 15:41.285 --> 15:43.507 obviously we're tracking infections and 15:43.507 --> 15:45.729 and hospitalizations so that that gives 15:45.729 --> 15:47.841 us a very good sense of the burden of 15:47.841 --> 15:50.063 disease as well . The last point I will 15:50.063 --> 15:52.063 make is when people test at home if 15:52.063 --> 15:54.229 they test positive . The first thought 15:54.229 --> 15:56.452 every single american should have is am 15:56.452 --> 15:58.674 I eligible for treatment ? The truth is 15:58.674 --> 16:00.841 we have fantastic treatments . Anybody 16:00.841 --> 16:03.063 over the age of 50 anybody with chronic 16:03.063 --> 16:05.285 disease should get evaluated personally 16:05.285 --> 16:07.229 as a physician . I think it's very 16:07.229 --> 16:09.118 clear to me that anybody in their 16:09.118 --> 16:11.540 sixties or above should be treated like 16:11.540 --> 16:13.596 there should be a good reason not to 16:13.596 --> 16:15.707 treat somebody and there are rarely a 16:15.707 --> 16:17.873 good reason meaning most people should 16:17.873 --> 16:19.984 be getting treated right now . Um and 16:19.984 --> 16:22.207 that is a message we've been delivering 16:22.207 --> 16:21.580 to doctors and nurses . That's a 16:21.590 --> 16:23.701 message to the american people if you 16:23.701 --> 16:26.180 get a positive test at home stay away 16:26.180 --> 16:28.347 from others . So you don't infect them 16:28.347 --> 16:31.060 and get evaluated to get treated on the 16:31.060 --> 16:33.360 funding . That was that is being used 16:33.360 --> 16:35.660 to purchase the new test for this new 16:35.660 --> 16:37.716 round for people to get them sent to 16:37.716 --> 16:39.938 their houses . Were there cuts to other 16:39.938 --> 16:41.882 covid programs in order to pay for 16:41.882 --> 16:44.150 those tests ? So let me talk about how 16:44.150 --> 16:46.850 we're able to do this . So we paused 16:46.850 --> 16:49.017 the program , you know , at the end of 16:49.017 --> 16:51.072 the summer because we wanted to make 16:51.072 --> 16:53.250 sure that we still had supply for a 16:53.250 --> 16:55.361 winter potential increase of cases in 16:55.361 --> 16:58.780 the winter . Um Second is while we as I 16:58.780 --> 17:01.002 have mentioned from here before , while 17:01.002 --> 17:03.113 we took a lot of the resources we had 17:03.113 --> 17:05.830 for tests to purchase vaccines um and 17:05.830 --> 17:07.552 treatments . We still had some 17:07.552 --> 17:09.719 resources left . We didn't use deplete 17:09.719 --> 17:11.941 the whole supply and so we had money in 17:11.941 --> 17:14.163 the american rescue plan uh to still be 17:14.163 --> 17:16.108 able to buy some more tests . That 17:16.108 --> 17:18.330 combination has allowed us to do this . 17:18.330 --> 17:20.386 It is on a limited basis . We're not 17:20.386 --> 17:20.240 gonna be able to keep this open forever . 17:21.260 --> 17:23.427 J . P . Thank you very much and thanks 17:23.427 --> 17:27.350 everybody . Okay , just a 17:27.350 --> 17:29.406 couple of things at the top and then 17:29.406 --> 17:31.572 we'll take some questions . So today's 17:31.572 --> 17:33.739 the final day of the US Africa Leaders 17:33.739 --> 17:36.040 Summit , a summit that has underscored 17:36.050 --> 17:37.494 the u . S . Commitment to 17:37.494 --> 17:39.830 reinvigorating partnerships across the 17:39.830 --> 17:41.770 continent . President biden Vice 17:41.770 --> 17:44.090 President Harris and other officials 17:44.090 --> 17:46.257 across the administration have had the 17:46.257 --> 17:48.479 opportunity to spend a lot of time with 17:48.479 --> 17:50.701 the leaders from across Africa over the 17:50.701 --> 17:54.040 last couple of days , including at last 17:54.040 --> 17:56.340 night's dinner here at the White House . 17:56.550 --> 17:58.772 Now this afternoon , the president will 17:58.772 --> 18:00.772 address the summit one more time at 18:00.772 --> 18:02.772 this afternoon's discussion on food 18:02.772 --> 18:05.030 security and food system resilience . 18:05.040 --> 18:07.096 This week , President biden and Vice 18:07.096 --> 18:08.762 President Harris have had the 18:08.762 --> 18:10.984 opportunity to announce new initiatives 18:10.984 --> 18:13.151 that will empower African institutions 18:13.151 --> 18:15.500 and citizens . The president reaffirmed 18:15.510 --> 18:17.740 are resolved to work collaboratively 18:17.740 --> 18:19.851 with African governments , businesses 18:19.851 --> 18:22.080 and civil civil society to strengthen 18:22.080 --> 18:24.680 people to people ties , ensure more 18:24.690 --> 18:27.040 inclusive and responsive global 18:27.040 --> 18:29.200 institutions , build a strong and 18:29.200 --> 18:31.700 sustainable global economy , foster new 18:31.700 --> 18:34.520 technology and innovative , strengthen 18:34.750 --> 18:37.060 innovation , strengthen health systems 18:37.060 --> 18:39.090 and prepare for the next pandemic 18:39.110 --> 18:41.360 tackle the food secure and climate 18:41.360 --> 18:43.450 crisis , support democracy and human 18:43.450 --> 18:46.020 rights and advance peace and security . 18:46.200 --> 18:48.311 The biden Harris administration plans 18:48.311 --> 18:50.200 to commit at least $55 billion in 18:50.200 --> 18:52.144 Africa over the next three years . 18:52.144 --> 18:54.800 Working closely with Congress and more 18:54.800 --> 18:57.350 than $15 billion in private sector 18:57.350 --> 18:59.930 investment deals were announced at the 18:59.930 --> 19:02.980 US Africa business Forum . And of 19:02.980 --> 19:04.869 course you've heard the President 19:04.869 --> 19:06.924 announced this week's plan this this 19:06.924 --> 19:09.800 week . Plans this week this week to 19:09.800 --> 19:11.930 plan to travel to Africa and to 19:11.930 --> 19:14.020 continue the work over the course of 19:14.030 --> 19:15.863 the summit and to strengthen our 19:15.863 --> 19:18.390 partnership across the continent . I 19:18.400 --> 19:21.100 also want to talk about something that 19:21.100 --> 19:23.390 affects millions of people across the 19:23.390 --> 19:26.580 country every day and with the holiday 19:26.580 --> 19:29.180 season upon us And in the light of the 19:29.180 --> 19:31.430 tragic , tragic news about twitch this 19:31.430 --> 19:34.330 week , we think it's important that we 19:34.330 --> 19:36.870 shed light on the resources available 19:36.880 --> 19:39.280 to any american dealing with mental 19:39.280 --> 19:41.810 health challenges or emotional distress 19:42.160 --> 19:44.490 tomorrow , said the second gentleman , 19:44.500 --> 19:46.600 Second gentleman Douglas Emhoff and 19:46.600 --> 19:48.711 leaders from Department of Health and 19:48.711 --> 19:51.770 Human Services will visit a local 988 19:51.770 --> 19:54.030 call center and meet with crisis 19:54.030 --> 19:56.030 counselors who are providing mental 19:56.030 --> 19:58.141 health and suicide prevention support 19:58.141 --> 20:00.086 to people from all backgrounds and 20:00.086 --> 20:02.740 walks of life . The 988 suicide and 20:02.740 --> 20:04.990 prevention Lifeline provides free 20:05.000 --> 20:07.810 confidential 24 7 support to americans 20:07.810 --> 20:09.690 across the country experiencing 20:09.690 --> 20:12.720 suicidal crisis or severe emotional 20:12.730 --> 20:15.450 distress . Anyone anywhere in the 20:15.450 --> 20:19.400 country can call or text 988 or chat 20:19.400 --> 20:22.960 988 lifeline dot org to reach a 20:22.960 --> 20:26.590 live trained counselor and thanks to 20:26.600 --> 20:28.767 the President , our administration has 20:28.767 --> 20:31.890 invested $432 million in getting the 20:31.890 --> 20:35.480 988 suicide and crisis lifeline up and 20:35.480 --> 20:37.369 running in communities across the 20:37.369 --> 20:40.500 country and 18 fold increase investment 20:40.500 --> 20:43.580 from the previous administration . So 20:43.590 --> 20:46.050 before we go into questions , I'll 20:46.050 --> 20:48.790 repeat myself one last time here for 20:48.790 --> 20:51.550 all of you , all of those who are 20:51.550 --> 20:53.661 struggling . We stand with you in our 20:53.661 --> 20:55.772 administration will keep fighting for 20:55.772 --> 20:58.080 you . One last thing . Before we , the 20:58.080 --> 21:00.302 last thing we really take question is I 21:00.302 --> 21:02.413 want to take a give you guys a little 21:02.413 --> 21:04.413 bit of the week ahead . Uh , just a 21:04.413 --> 21:06.358 quick look here this evening . The 21:06.358 --> 21:08.358 president will travel to Wellington 21:08.358 --> 21:10.524 Delaware tomorrow . The president will 21:10.524 --> 21:12.747 visit and speak at a town hall at the , 21:12.747 --> 21:14.802 at the major joseph R . Beau biden , 21:14.802 --> 21:17.024 the third National Guard Reserve Center 21:17.024 --> 21:18.969 in New Castle Delaware . This is a 21:18.969 --> 21:20.913 capstone on the Department of that 21:20.913 --> 21:22.913 Veterans Affairs Pact Act . Week of 21:22.913 --> 21:25.500 action with over 90 events and counting 21:25.510 --> 21:27.566 held across the country to encourage 21:27.566 --> 21:29.690 veterans to sign up for health care , 21:29.700 --> 21:32.260 get screened for toxic exposure and 21:32.260 --> 21:34.610 submit a claim if they are experiencing 21:34.610 --> 21:37.080 a toxic exposure related condition . 21:37.240 --> 21:39.518 The president will speak with veterans , 21:39.518 --> 21:41.296 their families , caregivers and 21:41.296 --> 21:43.184 survivors to discuss the historic 21:43.184 --> 21:45.129 expansion of benefits and services 21:45.129 --> 21:47.407 resulting from the bipartisan pact Act . 21:47.407 --> 21:49.240 I anticipate a preview with more 21:49.240 --> 21:51.240 details will be shared ahead of the 21:51.240 --> 21:53.296 event . So please stay tuned to that 21:53.296 --> 21:55.462 afterwards . The president will return 21:55.462 --> 21:57.573 to Washington D . C . For internal me 21:57.573 --> 21:59.629 meetings and more holiday receptions 21:59.629 --> 22:01.629 friday evening , the president will 22:01.629 --> 22:03.796 return to Wilmington Delaware where he 22:03.796 --> 22:05.684 will remain over the weekend . On 22:05.684 --> 22:07.796 monday , the president will return to 22:07.796 --> 22:09.907 Washington D . C . And in the evening 22:09.907 --> 22:11.796 he and the first lady will host a 22:11.796 --> 22:14.018 hanukkah holiday reception in the grand 22:14.018 --> 22:16.240 foyer right here in the White House and 22:16.240 --> 22:16.020 the residents , to be more precise , 22:16.420 --> 22:18.642 we'll have more to share on next week's 22:18.642 --> 22:20.698 guidance in the coming days , but we 22:20.698 --> 22:22.531 can also confirm today that next 22:22.531 --> 22:24.587 weekend the President and first lady 22:24.587 --> 22:26.698 will celebrate christmas at the White 22:26.698 --> 22:28.920 House and with that you want to kick us 22:28.920 --> 22:32.350 off with some light on the apparent 22:32.360 --> 22:34.471 radio miscommunication that the White 22:34.471 --> 22:36.416 House press pool separate from the 22:37.550 --> 22:40.860 White House today . Yes , give me one 22:40.860 --> 22:42.971 second because I do have something to 22:42.971 --> 22:44.916 share on that . Um so there was no 22:44.920 --> 22:47.410 emergency just to be clear or a 22:47.410 --> 22:50.040 security situation and appears that 22:50.040 --> 22:52.262 there was a radio miscommunication upon 22:52.262 --> 22:54.660 upon departure . Vance picked up the 22:54.660 --> 22:56.771 White House staff and press that were 22:56.771 --> 22:59.060 left at the convention center . So also 22:59.060 --> 23:01.380 White House staff were also left as 23:01.380 --> 23:03.436 well . And we waited to to start the 23:03.436 --> 23:05.780 press briefing until everyone returned 23:05.780 --> 23:07.613 to the White House . We share an 23:07.613 --> 23:09.960 appreciation for how important it is 23:09.960 --> 23:12.071 for the press pool to travel with the 23:12.071 --> 23:14.182 president and this remains a priority 23:14.182 --> 23:16.127 for our entire team . We sincerely 23:16.127 --> 23:18.080 apologize for the confusion and 23:18.080 --> 23:20.330 inconvenience and just to reiterate , 23:20.340 --> 23:22.880 we also sadly left the White House 23:22.880 --> 23:25.158 staff as well at the convention center . 23:25.158 --> 23:28.280 So this was this was a it was not just 23:28.290 --> 23:30.346 the press . So I just wanted to make 23:30.346 --> 23:32.123 that clear again . But with all 23:32.123 --> 23:34.290 seriousness , We do apologize for that 23:34.290 --> 23:36.234 President in his remarks earlier , 23:36.234 --> 23:39.210 alluded to a trip to uh africa himself 23:39.270 --> 23:41.820 details on when he might go and where 23:41.820 --> 23:43.764 he might go . And I know that Jake 23:43.764 --> 23:45.820 spoke to this when he was here on on 23:45.820 --> 23:47.876 monday as well . Look , I don't have 23:47.876 --> 23:50.440 anything to share at this time . What I 23:50.440 --> 23:52.760 can say is and this is basically what 23:52.770 --> 23:55.270 jake said on monday is that the vice 23:55.270 --> 23:57.048 president , a number of cabinet 23:57.048 --> 23:59.270 officials , they're all looking forward 23:59.270 --> 24:01.440 to visiting the african continent in 24:01.440 --> 24:03.580 2023 . Just don't have anything to 24:03.580 --> 24:06.430 preview at this time of Covid 24:07.470 --> 24:09.526 talked a lot about the importance of 24:09.526 --> 24:11.637 americans getting vaccinated CDC data 24:11.637 --> 24:14.540 shows that only about 14% of americans 24:14.540 --> 24:17.020 have actually updated vaccines . Does 24:17.030 --> 24:19.270 the president believe that he or his 24:19.270 --> 24:20.714 administration bears some 24:20.714 --> 24:22.770 responsibility for not being able to 24:22.770 --> 24:25.120 convince the vast majority of americans 24:25.130 --> 24:27.960 to get these updated shots that are so 24:27.960 --> 24:29.960 important ? Well , let's not forget 24:29.960 --> 24:31.904 when the president walked into the 24:31.904 --> 24:33.682 administration , he put forth a 24:33.682 --> 24:36.690 comprehensive covid vaccination plan 24:36.700 --> 24:39.760 that , that did not exist before he 24:39.760 --> 24:41.390 stepped into the , into the 24:41.390 --> 24:43.390 administration that helped get more 24:43.390 --> 24:45.501 than 200 million americans across the 24:45.501 --> 24:48.020 country fully vaccinated . And also 24:48.020 --> 24:50.187 made sure that there was equity at the 24:50.187 --> 24:52.353 center of his plan . Look , we're in a 24:52.353 --> 24:54.576 different phase as we , you've heard us 24:54.576 --> 24:56.770 say in this pandemic . And uh , and we 24:56.770 --> 24:58.860 are going to encourage people to get 24:58.860 --> 25:01.027 that new vaccine . We have the tools , 25:01.027 --> 25:03.430 we have the tools that we know work 25:03.440 --> 25:06.220 when it comes to covid when it comes to 25:06.220 --> 25:08.200 this pandemic . And uh , and we're 25:08.200 --> 25:10.367 going to continue to let folks know to 25:10.367 --> 25:12.610 utilize those tools . And so you've 25:12.610 --> 25:15.550 seen as I started this briefing saying , 25:15.560 --> 25:17.820 we're seeing a familiar face in the 25:17.820 --> 25:19.653 press briefing room . And that's 25:19.653 --> 25:21.709 because we've been trying to be very 25:21.709 --> 25:23.876 consistent on pushing that message out 25:23.876 --> 25:26.042 and letting people know that they need 25:26.042 --> 25:27.764 to get the new vaccine . It is 25:27.764 --> 25:29.987 important . We know it works especially 25:29.987 --> 25:29.630 as they're going to see their 25:29.630 --> 25:31.686 grandparents as they're going to see 25:31.686 --> 25:33.797 families , how important it is to get 25:33.797 --> 25:35.908 that new vaccine for themselves , but 25:35.908 --> 25:38.019 also for their loved ones . Look , we 25:38.019 --> 25:40.019 believe we've had a a comprehensive 25:40.019 --> 25:42.019 message . We've had a comprehensive 25:42.019 --> 25:44.241 plan . But again , we're in a new phase 25:44.241 --> 25:46.408 of this , of this pandemic and we just 25:46.408 --> 25:48.519 have to continue to beat the drum and 25:48.519 --> 25:50.630 we'll continue to do that . Thanks on 25:50.630 --> 25:52.741 immigration . We've talked to so many 25:52.741 --> 25:54.797 border patrol agents and leaders who 25:54.797 --> 25:56.797 are just really worried and anxious 25:56.797 --> 25:58.686 about the possibility of title 42 25:58.686 --> 26:00.741 ending next week . Make sure what is 26:00.741 --> 26:02.852 the administration doing right now to 26:02.852 --> 26:04.963 get ready for that . So , a couple of 26:04.963 --> 26:04.490 things that I want to lay out and I 26:04.490 --> 26:06.890 kind of leave this out before , but I 26:06.890 --> 26:09.880 want to reiterate here is that , you 26:09.880 --> 26:11.880 know , we're doing the work , we're 26:11.880 --> 26:13.991 going to do this in a safe and humane 26:13.991 --> 26:16.158 way . And we will we will have more to 26:16.158 --> 26:18.380 share on the proposed preparedness next 26:18.380 --> 26:21.180 week before the december 21st date . 26:21.190 --> 26:24.160 But look , we also need Congress to act . 26:24.170 --> 26:26.440 It is important that they deliver the 26:26.440 --> 26:28.551 resources we requested for the border 26:28.551 --> 26:30.718 security and management . They need to 26:30.718 --> 26:32.662 pass the comprehensive immigration 26:32.662 --> 26:34.770 reform that we have put forth on day 26:34.770 --> 26:36.548 one , the president put forth a 26:36.548 --> 26:39.350 comprehensive reform plan that dealt 26:39.350 --> 26:41.517 with protecting for the protecting for 26:41.517 --> 26:44.160 dreamers cutting down the asylum , the 26:44.160 --> 26:46.440 asylum build up that we have been 26:46.440 --> 26:48.440 seeing , especially because of what 26:48.440 --> 26:50.496 what the last administration did and 26:50.496 --> 26:52.718 they completely gutted the system . And 26:52.718 --> 26:55.170 we know that this has been a multi 26:55.170 --> 26:57.010 decade long problem . We need to 26:57.010 --> 26:58.890 modernize the system and this is 26:58.890 --> 27:00.946 something that the President has put 27:00.946 --> 27:03.168 forth . And we are looking for Congress 27:03.168 --> 27:05.446 to act . We are asking Congress to act . 27:05.446 --> 27:07.660 And so . But in the meantime , what we 27:07.660 --> 27:09.882 have been able to do is the president , 27:09.882 --> 27:12.049 as I've mentioned before , has secured 27:12.049 --> 27:14.040 historic funding . We have 23,000 27:14.050 --> 27:16.540 border security agents at the border . 27:16.540 --> 27:18.707 And that is the most amount that we've 27:18.707 --> 27:20.818 ever had ? And that's because of what 27:20.818 --> 27:22.984 the president has been able to do . Uh 27:22.984 --> 27:25.800 and we have worked to uh launch a 27:25.800 --> 27:28.060 historic anti smuggling op . Operations 27:28.060 --> 27:30.540 that are taking thousands of smugglers 27:30.550 --> 27:32.670 off the streets . But look , the 27:32.670 --> 27:34.820 reality is we need Congress to take 27:34.830 --> 27:36.663 action . We need to do this in a 27:36.663 --> 27:39.020 bipartisan way as we have done as the 27:39.020 --> 27:41.242 president has been able to do more than 27:41.242 --> 27:43.242 200 times during his administration 27:43.242 --> 27:44.853 reporting out there that the 27:44.853 --> 27:46.964 administration is considering changes 27:46.964 --> 27:50.110 to the asylum policy , potentially only 27:50.110 --> 27:52.221 applied for asylum if they've already 27:52.221 --> 27:54.277 been denied for another country like 27:54.277 --> 27:55.777 Mexico . Is that true ? Is 27:55.777 --> 27:58.054 administration considering any changes ? 27:58.054 --> 27:59.943 So look , I know there's a lot of 27:59.943 --> 28:02.110 rumors out there about that . A lot of 28:02.110 --> 28:04.277 speculation . I don't have anything to 28:04.277 --> 28:06.388 announce at this time or from here at 28:06.388 --> 28:06.230 this time . What I would encourage 28:06.230 --> 28:08.490 people to do is to read the Department 28:08.490 --> 28:10.601 of Homeland Security . They put out , 28:10.601 --> 28:13.050 they put forth a six point plan on how 28:13.050 --> 28:14.994 they're going to move forward with 28:14.994 --> 28:17.050 dealing with dealing uh , when we're 28:17.050 --> 28:19.050 dealing with the post december 21st 28:19.050 --> 28:21.420 deadline when Title 42 indeed lives . 28:21.430 --> 28:23.280 But don't have anything more to 28:23.280 --> 28:25.710 announce about a any any new plans from 28:25.710 --> 28:29.480 here . Thanks . Great . Um DHS warned 28:29.490 --> 28:31.690 in a memo obtained by CNN this week at 28:31.700 --> 28:34.510 the end of Title 42 will quote , likely 28:34.510 --> 28:36.690 increased migration flows immediately 28:36.700 --> 28:38.811 into the U . S . So I'm wondering how 28:38.811 --> 28:40.978 many migrants are you expecting to try 28:40.978 --> 28:42.867 and cross into the US through the 28:42.867 --> 28:45.170 southern border next week . And um and 28:45.170 --> 28:47.330 it is the administration prepared for 28:47.330 --> 28:49.700 this anticipated search . So look , you 28:49.700 --> 28:53.070 know , we have we have an intensive all 28:53.070 --> 28:55.200 of government effort underway to 28:55.200 --> 28:57.900 prepare uh , as I was stating earlier , 28:57.910 --> 28:59.966 when I was being asked a question by 28:59.966 --> 29:02.680 mary will have more to share ahead of 29:02.680 --> 29:05.210 the 20 december 21st deadline . But in 29:05.210 --> 29:07.960 the meantime , DHS is surging resources 29:07.960 --> 29:10.410 to the border , as you've seen as 29:10.410 --> 29:12.577 you've probably seen it in el paso . I 29:12.577 --> 29:14.632 talked a little bit about this on on 29:14.632 --> 29:16.980 monday where where over the last 72 29:16.980 --> 29:18.813 hours they've moved thousands of 29:18.813 --> 29:21.070 individuals out of , out out of the 29:21.070 --> 29:23.070 city . They're doubling down on the 29:23.070 --> 29:25.014 anti smuggling operations that the 29:25.014 --> 29:27.181 president launched months months ago . 29:27.181 --> 29:29.126 Uh , they're also working with our 29:29.126 --> 29:31.181 international partners to discourage 29:31.181 --> 29:33.237 disorderly mass movements across the 29:33.237 --> 29:35.292 border moving forward . Expect us to 29:35.292 --> 29:37.403 continue leaning in on our successful 29:37.403 --> 29:39.348 strategies like these and like our 29:39.348 --> 29:41.681 parole program for Venezuelan nationals , 29:41.681 --> 29:43.670 which has drastically reduced the 29:43.670 --> 29:45.670 number of Venezuelans attempting to 29:45.670 --> 29:47.781 enter unlawfully and will continue to 29:47.781 --> 29:49.614 drive messaging in the region to 29:49.614 --> 29:51.837 counter disinformation from smugglers . 29:51.837 --> 29:53.948 So that's another thing that we , you 29:53.948 --> 29:56.170 know , we have to keep an eye on is how 29:56.170 --> 29:55.970 the misinformation that's going to be 29:55.970 --> 29:58.010 going out to smugglers in the next 29:58.010 --> 30:00.232 couple of days . And so we have to make 30:00.232 --> 30:02.399 sure we will work together with all of 30:02.399 --> 30:04.510 you , our team will to make sure that 30:04.510 --> 30:06.732 that doesn't happen because that is one 30:06.732 --> 30:06.720 of the big issues that we're seeing 30:06.720 --> 30:08.920 when it comes to migrants trying to 30:08.920 --> 30:10.753 cross the border , aware of this 30:10.753 --> 30:12.698 warning from DHS . And you have an 30:12.698 --> 30:14.642 estimate of how many people you're 30:14.642 --> 30:16.864 expecting will try and cross the border 30:16.864 --> 30:18.976 to look , I don't have an estimate to 30:18.976 --> 30:21.198 share with you . What I can tell you is 30:21.198 --> 30:23.087 that the Department of Homeland , 30:23.087 --> 30:25.087 Homeland Security has put out a six 30:25.087 --> 30:26.976 point plan . As you all know , my 30:26.976 --> 30:29.031 secretary Mayorkas was at the border 30:29.031 --> 30:31.253 just recently to talk about this plan , 30:31.253 --> 30:33.253 put out a statement . And so we are 30:33.253 --> 30:35.198 focused , we're focused and we are 30:35.198 --> 30:37.309 prepared . We will have more to share 30:37.309 --> 30:39.587 next coming days on this on this piece . 30:39.587 --> 30:42.220 But again , we have , we have done the 30:42.220 --> 30:44.053 work from this administration by 30:44.053 --> 30:46.580 securing record record fun and we are 30:46.590 --> 30:48.701 asking Congress for Congress to act . 30:48.701 --> 30:50.770 We are not , we are not asking for 30:50.770 --> 30:52.881 political stunts . We continue to see 30:52.881 --> 30:55.160 political stunts from many republicans 30:55.160 --> 30:57.104 out there and that's not how we're 30:57.104 --> 30:59.382 going to fix this issue . They want to , 30:59.382 --> 31:01.549 they want to secure the border . We've 31:01.549 --> 31:04.240 been doing that work on our own and we 31:04.240 --> 31:06.407 ask , we're asking them to , hey , you 31:06.407 --> 31:08.351 know what , there's an immigration 31:08.351 --> 31:10.518 reform plan that the president put out 31:10.518 --> 31:12.684 on the first day they should work with 31:12.684 --> 31:12.270 us and do this in a bipartisan way . 31:12.290 --> 31:14.123 And then in terms of the funding 31:14.123 --> 31:16.179 negotiations on Capitol Hill , we've 31:16.179 --> 31:18.290 seen this administration as president 31:18.290 --> 31:20.346 at times play a more hands on role , 31:20.346 --> 31:19.780 more hands off role in some 31:19.780 --> 31:21.558 negotiations , depending on the 31:21.558 --> 31:23.724 situation . What's the case with these 31:23.724 --> 31:25.724 negotiations ? How involved has the 31:25.724 --> 31:27.613 president been ? Which particular 31:27.613 --> 31:29.558 negotiations are you talking about 31:29.558 --> 31:31.669 spending the spending of the spending 31:31.669 --> 31:33.891 the omnibus go more broadly . So look , 31:33.891 --> 31:36.058 we're encouraged by the bipartisanship 31:36.058 --> 31:38.169 that we're currently seeing uh , to , 31:38.169 --> 31:40.224 to the progress that we're seeing in 31:40.224 --> 31:42.113 Congress from leaders and and the 31:42.113 --> 31:44.280 progress that they're making . So it's 31:44.280 --> 31:46.391 a key step on the path to a full year 31:46.391 --> 31:46.360 government funding bill that delivers 31:46.360 --> 31:48.700 for the american people were optimistic 31:48.710 --> 31:50.877 that members of both parties can build 31:50.877 --> 31:53.043 on this progress and produce a funding 31:53.043 --> 31:55.266 bill that can pass the House and Senate 31:55.266 --> 31:57.377 signed into law by by the president . 31:57.377 --> 31:59.432 But to your question though , look , 31:59.432 --> 32:01.543 the president has been very engaged . 32:01.543 --> 32:03.488 He's been talking to congressional 32:03.488 --> 32:05.654 members , he had the big four here not 32:05.654 --> 32:07.877 too long ago , and this was in the read 32:07.877 --> 32:07.680 out . This was the government funding 32:07.680 --> 32:09.840 was the main priority that they 32:09.850 --> 32:12.260 discussed . Uh , and we have our team 32:12.260 --> 32:14.538 here . We have Shalonda Young from O M . 32:14.538 --> 32:16.704 B . I've mentioned this before , Who's 32:16.704 --> 32:18.927 the director who has been playing point 32:18.927 --> 32:21.093 on this ? Who knows how to work across 32:21.093 --> 32:23.204 the , across the across the aisle and 32:23.204 --> 32:25.427 do things in a bipartisan way . And she 32:25.427 --> 32:27.538 is leading that effort along with our 32:27.538 --> 32:29.538 Office of lege Affairs who have had 32:29.538 --> 32:31.760 multiple calls , multiple meetings , in 32:31.760 --> 32:31.710 getting this done . Look , this was 32:31.710 --> 32:34.043 done in a bipartisan way last year . Uh , 32:34.043 --> 32:35.988 and we believe it can be done in a 32:35.988 --> 32:39.010 bipartisan way this year as well . We 32:39.020 --> 32:41.187 we we , I mean , we have said , I said 32:41.187 --> 32:43.076 this earlier , uh , you know , if 32:43.076 --> 32:45.187 Congress needs a little bit more time 32:45.187 --> 32:47.076 to get this done , uh , were they 32:47.076 --> 32:49.242 should take that time , but we believe 32:49.242 --> 32:51.409 there's enough time to get the omnibus 32:51.409 --> 32:53.576 done . And so we are we are encouraged 32:53.576 --> 32:55.760 by what we're seeing in that progress 32:55.770 --> 32:57.937 and we believe that it can get done in 32:57.937 --> 33:01.170 time . Thanks green . The president 33:01.170 --> 33:03.226 mentioned in his statement yesterday 33:03.226 --> 33:05.226 about the Sandy Hook killings , the 33:05.226 --> 33:07.337 anniversary . Again , his push for an 33:07.337 --> 33:09.448 assault weapons ban . And also talked 33:09.448 --> 33:12.510 about um , moral guilt and not having 33:12.520 --> 33:14.409 done more for the last 10 years . 33:14.610 --> 33:16.832 There's only a couple weeks left in the 33:16.890 --> 33:19.057 can you give us an update on just what 33:19.057 --> 33:21.280 the next steps are that he sees for 33:21.280 --> 33:22.724 this white house for this 33:22.724 --> 33:24.836 administration and getting an assault 33:24.836 --> 33:27.058 weapons ban ? So look , we have been in 33:27.058 --> 33:29.169 close touch with Senate leadership on 33:29.169 --> 33:31.391 this . As you , as you just mentioned , 33:31.391 --> 33:33.613 this is a priority for this President . 33:33.613 --> 33:35.836 It has been for some time . Uh , he was 33:35.836 --> 33:38.169 a leader on this during his Senate days , 33:38.169 --> 33:40.280 uh , and also as vice president . And 33:40.280 --> 33:40.070 so he's going to continue to push for 33:40.070 --> 33:42.770 this . Whether this happens in the next 33:42.780 --> 33:44.836 couple of weeks or it happens in the 33:44.836 --> 33:46.891 next several months . He is going to 33:46.891 --> 33:50.530 really work hard to get this done . And 33:50.540 --> 33:52.800 you know , he's talked about it at 33:52.810 --> 33:55.000 almost every moment that he can every 33:55.000 --> 33:57.222 time that he had an opportunity to talk 33:57.222 --> 33:59.444 about the shootings , that we have seen 33:59.450 --> 34:01.520 how it's destroyed our communities , 34:01.520 --> 34:03.687 how is destroyed families , he's going 34:03.687 --> 34:05.631 to continue to lift that up to the 34:05.631 --> 34:07.742 american people . Again , we're going 34:07.742 --> 34:09.964 to have those conversations with Senate 34:09.964 --> 34:12.187 leadership . We have have been the last 34:12.187 --> 34:13.964 couple of days . I don't have a 34:13.964 --> 34:15.964 timeline for you , this is indeed a 34:15.964 --> 34:17.964 priority for this president and his 34:17.964 --> 34:20.131 administration . We have seen the work 34:20.131 --> 34:22.187 that he's done this first year and a 34:22.187 --> 34:24.298 half . He did the most , uh , did the 34:24.298 --> 34:26.550 most executive actions on gun violence 34:26.550 --> 34:28.439 than any other president . And so 34:28.439 --> 34:30.550 clearly , this is a priority for this 34:30.550 --> 34:33.000 President beyond speaking about it . Is 34:33.000 --> 34:35.056 it is it really that is the strategy 34:35.056 --> 34:37.278 basically to use the bully pulpit ? And 34:37.530 --> 34:39.752 that's an important strategy . I mean , 34:39.752 --> 34:41.808 right , the President has one of the 34:41.808 --> 34:43.752 most powerful bully pulpits in the 34:43.752 --> 34:45.974 country in the world . Even right . And 34:45.974 --> 34:47.808 so we have seen him use it in an 34:47.808 --> 34:49.586 effective way to get historic , 34:49.586 --> 34:51.697 historic pieces of legislation done . 34:51.697 --> 34:53.808 Uh , and so he's going to continue to 34:53.808 --> 34:55.586 do that . But we're also having 34:55.586 --> 34:57.641 conversations with Senate leadership 34:57.641 --> 34:59.863 that will not stop or end when it comes 34:59.863 --> 35:02.080 to this issue . Thanks Green . Just 35:02.090 --> 35:04.312 before you came out , the president had 35:04.312 --> 35:06.312 authorized the release of documents 35:06.312 --> 35:07.868 related to john f Kennedy's 35:07.868 --> 35:09.979 assassination . Um , and since you've 35:09.979 --> 35:11.868 been at the podium , the National 35:11.868 --> 35:13.812 Archives has started posting those 35:13.812 --> 35:15.812 documents . Can you talk about that 35:15.812 --> 35:17.923 decision to to release those and also 35:17.923 --> 35:20.860 address um , 70% of the documents are 35:20.860 --> 35:23.900 being released , 30% still or not what 35:23.900 --> 35:25.900 is taking so long and the other 30% 35:25.900 --> 35:28.122 given it's been 50 years . So look , as 35:28.122 --> 35:30.233 you know , this has been a commitment 35:30.233 --> 35:32.011 of this president , right , the 35:32.011 --> 35:34.233 president , the president's action have 35:34.233 --> 35:36.289 led to public release of over 14,000 35:36.289 --> 35:38.178 records , including approximately 35:38.178 --> 35:40.233 12,000 today . Just to give everyone 35:40.233 --> 35:42.289 specifics here . As a result , we're 35:42.289 --> 35:44.550 talking about 97% of the co of the 35:44.550 --> 35:46.494 collection is now available to the 35:46.494 --> 35:48.580 public . This reflects again , the 35:48.580 --> 35:50.747 President's commitment to making these 35:50.747 --> 35:52.913 records available to the public to the 35:52.913 --> 35:54.913 greatest extent possible consistent 35:54.913 --> 35:57.024 with national security . So this is a 35:57.024 --> 35:59.191 commitment that the President has been 35:59.191 --> 36:01.358 making for some time or made some time 36:01.358 --> 36:03.302 ago . President biden believes all 36:03.302 --> 36:05.136 information related to President 36:05.136 --> 36:07.024 Kennedy's assassination should be 36:07.024 --> 36:08.802 released to the greatest extent 36:08.802 --> 36:10.636 possible , consistent with again 36:10.636 --> 36:12.469 Natural Security . That's why he 36:12.469 --> 36:14.691 directed the acting archives to conduct 36:14.691 --> 36:16.940 a supplementary six month review of a 36:16.950 --> 36:19.130 subset of the remaining redacted 36:19.130 --> 36:21.352 records to ensure they are disclosed To 36:21.352 --> 36:23.750 the greatest extent possible . He also 36:23.750 --> 36:25.600 directed all remaining redacted 36:25.600 --> 36:27.544 information to be disclosed to the 36:27.544 --> 36:30.090 public when the basis for the continued 36:30.090 --> 36:32.034 restriction of that information no 36:32.034 --> 36:34.201 longer outweighs the public interest . 36:34.201 --> 36:35.979 So obviously there's a national 36:35.979 --> 36:37.868 security component here but he is 36:37.868 --> 36:39.979 committed to getting that information 36:39.979 --> 36:42.090 out . And right now we're seeing more 36:42.090 --> 36:44.201 than 97% of the collection that's out 36:44.201 --> 36:47.810 there for for folks to to review . I 36:47.820 --> 36:49.431 have two questions for you , 36:49.431 --> 36:51.542 congressman Cohen and Wilson from the 36:51.542 --> 36:53.376 Helsinki Commission introduced a 36:53.376 --> 36:55.431 resolution urging President biden to 36:55.431 --> 36:57.880 take steps to suspend or terminate 36:57.890 --> 37:00.720 Russia's rights and privileges at the U . 37:00.720 --> 37:03.010 N . Security Council . Does the 37:03.010 --> 37:05.290 President support this effort ? What 37:05.290 --> 37:08.280 steps he can take is this goal 37:08.290 --> 37:11.730 achievable ? Yes , we do 37:11.730 --> 37:15.310 support . Uh We do support that 37:15.310 --> 37:18.130 effort . Um Can you say the question 37:18.130 --> 37:20.130 one more time ? I just want to make 37:20.130 --> 37:23.440 sure the resolution uh the President 37:23.450 --> 37:25.960 ask the President urges the President 37:25.970 --> 37:29.130 to take steps to suspend or terminate 37:29.140 --> 37:32.110 Russia's rights in the U . S . U . N . 37:32.110 --> 37:35.100 Security Security Council . So um look 37:35.110 --> 37:38.100 Russia's conduct in Ukraine is a 37:38.100 --> 37:40.750 violation of the U . N . Charter and is 37:40.750 --> 37:42.861 an affront to the core mandate of the 37:42.861 --> 37:45.028 Security Council . And we see it as an 37:45.028 --> 37:47.028 outrageous . It is outrageous for a 37:47.028 --> 37:48.806 permanent member of the U . N . 37:48.806 --> 37:50.861 Security Council to be violating the 37:50.861 --> 37:53.083 charter and waging such a brutal war on 37:53.083 --> 37:55.250 Ukraine including by trying to inflict 37:55.250 --> 37:57.250 such widespread human suffering and 37:57.250 --> 37:59.417 targeting critical infrastructure . So 37:59.417 --> 38:01.890 we successfully led a vote in the U . N . 38:01.890 --> 38:04.780 General Assembly to suspend Russia from 38:04.780 --> 38:07.500 the U . N . Human Rights Council . And 38:07.500 --> 38:09.850 we have worked to prevent Russia from 38:09.850 --> 38:11.961 taking leadership positions elsewhere 38:11.961 --> 38:14.072 in the U . N . System . So we've been 38:14.072 --> 38:16.294 very consistent on this . If there were 38:16.294 --> 38:18.628 a path to suspend Russia from the U . N . 38:18.628 --> 38:20.628 Security Council we would pursue it 38:20.628 --> 38:22.683 immediately . Unfortunately we don't 38:22.683 --> 38:26.110 see uh the U . N . We don't see um the 38:26.110 --> 38:28.277 U . N . Rules changing . And so we are 38:28.277 --> 38:30.388 focused on continuing to take actions 38:30.388 --> 38:32.810 to isolate Russia including in 38:32.820 --> 38:34.876 international organizations and hold 38:34.876 --> 38:37.250 Russia accountable including through 38:37.250 --> 38:39.306 sanctions and enforcement actions we 38:39.306 --> 38:42.230 announced today as you saw follow up on 38:42.240 --> 38:45.440 patriots for Ukraine also since there 38:45.440 --> 38:48.070 was no announcement on this yet ? I 38:48.080 --> 38:50.720 would like to ask if the President is 38:50.730 --> 38:54.550 even considering sending patriots to 38:54.550 --> 38:57.980 Ukraine . And what's the White House's 38:57.980 --> 39:00.850 response to warnings coming from the 39:00.850 --> 39:04.630 Kremlin about possible consequences if 39:04.640 --> 39:07.030 the U . S . Sends patriots to Ukraine . 39:07.040 --> 39:08.873 So first , let me take your last 39:08.873 --> 39:11.040 question . First . Look , the only the 39:11.040 --> 39:13.350 only provocative moves are being made 39:13.350 --> 39:15.700 by Russia and Russia is the aggressor 39:15.710 --> 39:17.821 aggressor here . And and let's not we 39:17.821 --> 39:19.877 should never forget that . We should 39:19.877 --> 39:21.988 never forget who is actually actually 39:21.988 --> 39:24.210 started this war and it was Russia . So 39:24.210 --> 39:26.377 that's that's point . One point to the 39:26.377 --> 39:28.488 United States is not now , nor has it 39:28.488 --> 39:30.550 been at war with Russia . This is 39:30.560 --> 39:32.690 responding to what we've heard from 39:32.690 --> 39:35.770 Russia this past 24 hours . We we've 39:35.770 --> 39:37.992 been doing exactly what President biden 39:37.992 --> 39:40.159 told President Putin . We would do one 39:40.159 --> 39:42.159 year ago if Russia attacked Ukraine 39:42.159 --> 39:44.270 providing security assistance to help 39:44.270 --> 39:46.492 Ukraine defend itself . That's what you 39:46.492 --> 39:47.992 have been seeing from this 39:47.992 --> 39:50.159 administration from this White House . 39:50.159 --> 39:52.214 Finally , while I don't have any new 39:52.214 --> 39:54.326 security assistance packages to speak 39:54.326 --> 39:56.492 of today , as you all know , President 39:56.492 --> 39:58.603 biden has been clear about this . The 39:58.603 --> 40:00.770 United States will continue to support 40:00.770 --> 40:02.714 Ukraine for as long as as it takes 40:02.714 --> 40:04.910 alongside our allies and partners as 40:04.910 --> 40:06.854 the people of Ukraine defend their 40:06.854 --> 40:09.077 country as they defend their freedom as 40:09.077 --> 40:11.243 they defend their sovereignty . And we 40:11.243 --> 40:13.920 will continue to do that as it was 40:13.920 --> 40:15.980 reported by the U . S . I just don't 40:15.980 --> 40:18.202 have anything to share with you at this 40:18.202 --> 40:20.424 time , I'm wondering if the White House 40:20.424 --> 40:22.369 has any reaction on two bills that 40:22.369 --> 40:24.536 moved through the U . S . Senate . One 40:24.536 --> 40:26.480 is on Tiktok . Senate voted to ban 40:26.480 --> 40:28.369 Tiktok from our government issued 40:28.369 --> 40:30.591 phones . Let's start with that one . To 40:30.591 --> 40:32.702 the White House have feelings on that 40:32.702 --> 40:34.758 moment . So , um , as I've , as I've 40:34.758 --> 40:37.080 said before , uh , you know , um , I 40:37.090 --> 40:39.660 want to be very careful on commenting 40:39.660 --> 40:41.870 on any specific legislation at this 40:41.870 --> 40:44.092 time . So I would refer you to Congress 40:44.092 --> 40:45.926 on the next steps . We don't get 40:45.926 --> 40:48.148 involved in the process , uh , as we've 40:48.148 --> 40:50.259 done in the past . But look just more 40:50.259 --> 40:52.259 broadly , there are a range of tech 40:52.259 --> 40:54.426 applications and products that are not 40:54.426 --> 40:56.592 allowed to be used on the White on the 40:56.592 --> 40:58.259 White House and other federal 40:58.259 --> 41:00.426 government work equipment for security 41:00.426 --> 41:02.481 reasons , including Tiktok . We will 41:02.481 --> 41:04.592 not go into any further details about 41:04.592 --> 41:06.703 security policies that we have here , 41:06.703 --> 41:08.592 but I'm not going to get into the 41:08.592 --> 41:10.537 process . I know that this just so 41:10.537 --> 41:12.370 we're going to let Congress move 41:12.370 --> 41:14.426 forward with the process position on 41:14.426 --> 41:16.537 that one . What about the Senate bill 41:16.537 --> 41:18.481 that would essentially halt always 41:18.481 --> 41:20.537 access to U . S . Banks . The Senate 41:20.537 --> 41:22.759 majority leader chuck schumer is one of 41:22.759 --> 41:22.350 the sponsors of that bill . Does the 41:22.350 --> 41:24.683 White House have a position on that one ? 41:24.683 --> 41:26.850 I don't have a position on that one at 41:26.850 --> 41:28.961 this time from here . Okay , thanks . 41:28.961 --> 41:30.739 Americans clearly divided about 41:30.739 --> 41:32.572 immigration from the White House 41:32.572 --> 41:34.683 perspective though . Should americans 41:34.683 --> 41:38.190 be supportive or concerned with the end 41:38.200 --> 41:41.410 of title 42 which obviously stops most 41:41.410 --> 41:43.632 migrants from being able to apply for . 41:43.632 --> 41:45.799 What americans should know is that the 41:45.799 --> 41:49.030 president has done has done the work to 41:49.030 --> 41:50.974 deal with what we're seeing at the 41:50.974 --> 41:53.086 border since day one . What americans 41:53.086 --> 41:55.197 should know is that the president put 41:55.197 --> 41:57.530 forth an immigration reform policy , uh , 41:57.530 --> 41:59.697 to make sure that we're dealing with a 41:59.697 --> 42:01.808 broken system to make sure that we're 42:01.808 --> 42:03.919 able to protect dreamers to make sure 42:03.919 --> 42:05.863 that we deal with the backlog that 42:05.863 --> 42:08.086 we're seeing with asylum seekers to fix 42:08.086 --> 42:10.890 the gutted system . That was uh , that 42:10.890 --> 42:12.890 has been around for some time , but 42:12.890 --> 42:14.820 certainly was gutted by the last 42:14.820 --> 42:17.190 administration and the work that the 42:17.190 --> 42:19.190 president has done , he wants to do 42:19.190 --> 42:21.190 this in a bipartisan way . But what 42:21.190 --> 42:23.523 we're seeing is republicans continue Uh , 42:23.523 --> 42:25.746 to move forward with political stunts . 42:25.746 --> 42:27.690 Many of them are doing this and we 42:27.690 --> 42:29.634 continue to see this over the last 42:29.634 --> 42:31.857 several months . So , the president has 42:31.857 --> 42:33.746 done the work . He secured record 42:33.746 --> 42:35.801 funding . Again , I mentioned 23,000 42:35.801 --> 42:37.912 agents that are at the border who are 42:37.912 --> 42:39.968 working night and day to protect and 42:39.968 --> 42:42.134 secure the border . And that's because 42:42.134 --> 42:44.134 of the work that this president has 42:44.134 --> 42:45.857 done and we're working on anti 42:45.857 --> 42:48.079 smuggling efforts as well . And so look 42:48.079 --> 42:49.968 what the what the american people 42:49.968 --> 42:52.079 should know is that we have taken the 42:52.079 --> 42:53.912 steps , we're taking the step to 42:53.912 --> 42:57.110 prepare for what is for for when title 42:57.110 --> 43:00.200 42 is lifted next week . And you saw 43:00.200 --> 43:02.256 that from the Department of Homeland 43:02.256 --> 43:04.422 Security Secretary . Mayorkas was very 43:04.422 --> 43:06.478 clear about that . He laid out their 43:06.478 --> 43:08.367 six point plan when he was at the 43:08.367 --> 43:10.533 border just a couple of days ago . And 43:10.533 --> 43:12.478 this is an administration that has 43:12.478 --> 43:14.311 taken this very , very seriously 43:14.810 --> 43:17.580 entitled to trump policy . Is a good 43:17.580 --> 43:20.170 thing . What I'm telling you is that it 43:20.170 --> 43:22.950 was a court order that was that we're 43:22.950 --> 43:25.820 following and we're going to follow the 43:25.820 --> 43:28.890 law when it comes to what the court has 43:28.890 --> 43:31.057 decided to do . What I can tell you is 43:31.057 --> 43:33.112 what the president has done over the 43:33.112 --> 43:35.279 last two years to make sure that we're 43:35.279 --> 43:37.460 dealing with border security . We hear 43:37.460 --> 43:39.627 it from many republicans , right ? You 43:39.627 --> 43:41.627 guys report on it . Many we can say 43:41.627 --> 43:43.682 over and over and over again that we 43:43.682 --> 43:45.904 need to do work at the border , that we 43:45.904 --> 43:47.904 need to secure the border , but yet 43:47.904 --> 43:49.904 they refuse to work with us on this 43:49.904 --> 43:52.016 piece of legislation . Instead , what 43:52.016 --> 43:53.904 they choose to do is do political 43:53.904 --> 43:56.127 stunts . That doesn't help one question 43:56.127 --> 43:57.793 about Afghanistan , there are 43:57.793 --> 44:00.016 negotiations about including the Afghan 44:00.016 --> 44:03.430 adjustment act in the spending bill has 44:03.430 --> 44:05.652 been a group of retired ambassadors who 44:05.652 --> 44:07.763 have been pushing for its inclusion , 44:07.763 --> 44:09.874 the biden administration has tried to 44:09.874 --> 44:11.930 get this in the spending bill before 44:11.930 --> 44:13.541 unsuccessfully . What is the 44:13.541 --> 44:15.652 administration doing differently this 44:15.652 --> 44:17.920 time to get as you know , by your 44:17.920 --> 44:20.110 statement , we strongly support the 44:20.120 --> 44:22.231 ongoing congressional efforts to pass 44:22.231 --> 44:24.342 the Afghan adjustment act and we urge 44:24.342 --> 44:26.509 Congress we're going to continue to do 44:26.509 --> 44:28.509 this to send the legislation to the 44:28.509 --> 44:30.231 president To provide a path to 44:30.231 --> 44:32.287 permanent permanent legal status for 44:32.287 --> 44:34.120 Afghans . And we have joined our 44:34.120 --> 44:36.176 communities and resettled across who 44:36.176 --> 44:38.120 have joined our communities and we 44:38.120 --> 44:40.009 settle across our country through 44:40.009 --> 44:42.231 Operation Allies . Welcome . So that is 44:42.231 --> 44:42.170 something that we're going to continue 44:42.170 --> 44:45.050 to ask for Congress to act . We first 44:45.050 --> 44:47.272 asked Congress to pass this legislation 44:47.272 --> 44:49.440 back in August of 2021 And have been 44:49.440 --> 44:51.551 working with members of Congress from 44:51.551 --> 44:53.640 both parties to try to pass it ever 44:53.640 --> 44:55.640 since . And we know that there is a 44:55.640 --> 44:58.270 bipartisan support for this bill and 44:58.270 --> 45:00.270 that negotiations in the Senate are 45:00.270 --> 45:02.381 ongoing . It's important to take care 45:02.381 --> 45:04.510 of our Afghan allies who took care of 45:04.510 --> 45:07.930 us during the 20 years of this uh Of 45:07.930 --> 45:10.760 the US of the years that US was at war 45:10.760 --> 45:12.871 in Afghanistan . So we take this very 45:12.871 --> 45:14.927 seriously . We strongly support it . 45:14.927 --> 45:14.800 We're going to continue to have 45:14.800 --> 45:16.967 conversations with members of Congress 45:16.967 --> 45:19.078 and continue to urge them to get this 45:19.078 --> 45:18.780 done 45:24.240 --> 45:26.407 from the back that I haven't taken one 45:27.170 --> 45:29.220 Thanks dream , Jake Sullivan was in 45:29.220 --> 45:31.276 here on monday and set an engagement 45:31.276 --> 45:33.442 with Russian counter front was planned 45:33.442 --> 45:35.387 for this week on . Do you have any 45:35.387 --> 45:37.387 updates on that or say whether that 45:37.387 --> 45:39.553 happened . So as you know , we want to 45:39.553 --> 45:41.250 be really mindful of of any 45:41.250 --> 45:43.250 conversations that we have as we're 45:43.250 --> 45:45.417 talking about negotiations , we're not 45:45.417 --> 45:47.639 gonna uh you know , speak about that in 45:47.639 --> 45:49.972 public . I don't have anything to share . 45:49.972 --> 45:52.194 But so that , you know , and we've said 45:52.194 --> 45:54.139 this before and jake has been very 45:54.139 --> 45:56.306 clear . The president has very clear . 45:56.306 --> 45:58.420 We take uh this uh when americans are 45:58.420 --> 46:00.531 wrongfully detained or held hostage , 46:00.531 --> 46:02.587 we take that very seriously . Uh and 46:02.587 --> 46:04.642 we're going to do everything that we 46:04.642 --> 46:06.642 can to bring paul wheelin home . Uh 46:06.642 --> 46:08.587 that is a priority . But certainly 46:08.587 --> 46:10.809 we're not gonna talk about steps or any 46:10.809 --> 46:13.031 conversations in public because we want 46:13.031 --> 46:15.087 to make sure that we get this done . 46:15.087 --> 46:17.253 Just one other question . Can you give 46:17.253 --> 46:17.130 us an update on Mayor Garcetti's 46:17.130 --> 46:19.241 nomination as Ambassador India ? Does 46:19.241 --> 46:21.463 the president need to resubmit his name 46:21.463 --> 46:23.686 to the new congress where you guys at ? 46:23.686 --> 46:25.463 So look as you know , this is a 46:25.463 --> 46:27.686 priority and continues to be a priority 46:27.686 --> 46:29.463 for us . Mayor Garcetti is well 46:29.463 --> 46:31.686 qualified to serve in this vital role . 46:31.686 --> 46:33.463 Uh the Senate Foreign Relations 46:33.463 --> 46:35.463 Committee as you know , voted Mayor 46:35.463 --> 46:37.574 Garcetti out of committee unanimously 46:37.574 --> 46:39.852 after reviewing this matter thoroughly . 46:39.852 --> 46:42.074 And we're hopefully , and we're hopeful 46:42.074 --> 46:44.400 that full Senate will confirm him 46:44.410 --> 46:46.632 promptly and so we're going to continue 46:46.632 --> 46:48.799 to support him . Okay , good . Emily , 46:48.799 --> 46:51.880 thanks , I had to follow up on Title 42 . 46:51.880 --> 46:53.936 I know you said you guys are hopeful 46:53.936 --> 46:56.047 that the omnibus gets past . But what 46:56.047 --> 46:58.213 kind of preparations are being done in 46:58.213 --> 47:00.380 case it doesn't end communities to get 47:00.380 --> 47:02.602 overwhelmed and need some resources and 47:02.602 --> 47:04.769 also does the administration fear that 47:04.769 --> 47:04.340 the end of Title 42 will lead to a 47:04.340 --> 47:06.507 spike in public cases in the country . 47:06.507 --> 47:08.673 So let me just talk a little bit about 47:08.673 --> 47:10.840 the three , but there's $3 billion for 47:10.840 --> 47:12.729 board of funding . So a couple of 47:12.729 --> 47:14.729 things , uh , you know , again , if 47:14.729 --> 47:16.951 republicans are so serious about this , 47:16.951 --> 47:18.951 we put forward some $3 billion plan 47:18.951 --> 47:20.896 that we are asking for Congress to 47:20.896 --> 47:23.062 support , here's what it would do . It 47:23.062 --> 47:25.229 would ensure that the men and women of 47:25.229 --> 47:27.229 the Department of Homeland Security 47:27.229 --> 47:29.396 have the resources they need to secure 47:29.396 --> 47:31.507 our border and build a safe , orderly 47:31.507 --> 47:33.507 and humane immigration system . The 47:33.507 --> 47:35.507 funding will integrate surveillance 47:35.507 --> 47:37.562 towers , inspect technology , border 47:37.562 --> 47:39.784 patrol , rotor rotary wing aircraft and 47:39.784 --> 47:42.270 helicopter aircraft sensor upgrades , 47:42.280 --> 47:44.830 tactical marine time surveillance 47:44.830 --> 47:47.480 system and also law enforcement radios , 47:47.480 --> 47:49.790 faster asylum claim processing and so 47:49.790 --> 47:51.512 much more . So we believe it's 47:51.512 --> 47:53.623 incredibly important to get that done 47:53.623 --> 47:56.260 as well . But to your question about 47:56.270 --> 47:59.090 the winter surge , how we're , how Dr 47:59.090 --> 48:01.312 Zhao was talking about this from , from 48:01.312 --> 48:03.146 the podium . Look because of the 48:03.146 --> 48:05.146 presidents presidents work and what 48:05.146 --> 48:07.146 he's been able to do throughout his 48:07.146 --> 48:09.201 administration . The american people 48:09.201 --> 48:11.368 have tools , we know what works and to 48:11.368 --> 48:11.320 protect , to protect themselves from 48:11.320 --> 48:13.550 covid and we continue to encourage them 48:13.550 --> 48:15.730 to use the tools as we always have . 48:15.960 --> 48:19.290 Now on Title 42 we've inquired , we are 48:19.290 --> 48:22.230 required by the court to lift Title 42 48:22.350 --> 48:24.572 we plan to comply with that order . And 48:24.572 --> 48:27.740 so but Title 42 or not , every 48:27.740 --> 48:30.550 individual at the border is screened 48:30.560 --> 48:33.060 and processed by Border Patrol agents 48:33.060 --> 48:34.949 before they are placed in removal 48:34.949 --> 48:36.893 proceedings . And like I've said a 48:36.893 --> 48:38.782 couple times already , you know , 48:38.782 --> 48:40.560 Department of Health , Homeland 48:40.560 --> 48:42.727 Security has been , has been on top of 48:42.727 --> 48:44.838 this . We are prepared . We are ready 48:44.838 --> 48:47.350 to do this in a humane way and in a 48:47.350 --> 48:49.610 safe way . And so it is something that 48:49.610 --> 48:51.832 the president has been working on since 48:51.832 --> 48:54.840 day one of his administration . Thanks 48:54.840 --> 48:58.380 everybody . Thanks everybody . Gotta go . 48:58.380 --> 49:00.450 Thanks everybody .