Month: March 2023

Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. held separate calls with Governor Tate Reeves, Senators Roger Wicker and Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, to express his condolences for the lives lost and the damage resulting from the tornadoes and extreme weather that impacted Mississippi overnight. The President asked what the people of Mississippi need and how he can be most supportive. The President expressed his commitment to delivering federal assistance as quickly as possible to impacted areas and to helping these communities recover from the impacts of these storms. The President also spoke with FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, who will travel to…

Canadian Aviation and Space MuseumOttawa, Canada 7:19 P.M. EDT PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU:  Miigwech, Claudette, for that beautiful prayer. Mr. President, Joe, thanks for coming to visit, neighbor.  (Laughter.) Dr. Biden, Jill, thank you for being here as well.  I know Sophie had a great time showing you around today.  And over the years at various summits and meetings, we’ve had a lot of meals and a lot of working conversations, but it’s truly special to host you here at home in Canada. (Speaks in French.)  (No translation provided.)  (Applause.)  Joe, one thing that everybody has learned about you is that…

In our interconnected world, instability anywhere can have global repercussions. The security and prosperity of Americans here at home is directly connected to the security and economic health of people everywhere. Strife spills across borders. Violence and deprivation are driving a record number of people from their homes. The horrors of war unfolding in Ukraine, where Russian forces are committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, as well as in Yemen and Syria, remind us every day of the terrible human costs of conflict. And, as we have all experienced these past few years living through the COVID-19 pandemic and…

The U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability is a long-term initiative to redefine how the United States prevents violence and advances stability in areas vulnerable to conflict.  Under the bipartisan Global Fragility Act, the U.S. government is implementing this Strategy through 10-year plans developed with extensive consultations with local stakeholders in our priority partner countries and region: Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and the Coastal West Africa countries of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo.  The U.S. government is investing resources, including through the Prevention and Stabilization Fund, to bolster these country and region-specific plans.  In…

I welcome today’s release of Paul Rusesabagina by the Government of Rwanda.  Paul’s family is eager to welcome him back to the United States, and I share their joy at today’s good news. I thank the Rwandan Government for making this reunion possible, and I also thank the Government of Qatar for facilitating Paul’s release and return to the United States.  I add my gratitude to those across the U.S. Government who have worked with the Government of Rwanda to achieve today’s happy outcome. ### Official news published at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/24/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-the-release-of-paul-rusesabagina/

4:44 P.M. EDT PRIME MINISTER TRUDEAU:  (As interpreted.)  Good afternoon, everyone. (In English.)  It is a real pleasure to welcome my friend President Biden, Joe, to Canada this week. We had the opportunity to discuss the progress made under the February 2021 Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership, a plan our countries put forward a month after the President was sworn in. (In French.)  (As interpreted.)  Today, with President Biden, we’ve made progress on several important files.  And I’d like to mention some of our common priorities: growing the middle class, strengthening the economy, making life more affordable for people,…

The United States and Canada celebrate our progress under the Roadmap for a Renewed U.S.-Canada Partnership over the past two years and reaffirm our historic alliance, steadfast friendship, and commitment to overcome the daunting challenges of today and realize the full potential of the relationship in the future.  Our enduring partnership is based on a mutual commitment to shared security, shared prosperity, and shared democratic values, including the importance of fighting climate change and an abiding respect for human rights and the rule of law.  As the closest of friends and allies, we remain committed to making life better for…

As President Biden has said, the United States has no closer friend, partner, or ally than Canada.  Over the past 150 years, our two countries have built one of the closest and most extensive relationships. Canada is our largest trading partner, with nearly $2.6 billion in goods and services crossing our shared border, the world’s longest land border, every day – an almost 20 percent increase in 2022 over the previous year. This trade supports millions of jobs on both sides of the border. Our people also share deep personal and familial ties, and we’ve worked together to tackle some…

Dear Mr. Chairman:  (Dear Madam Chair:) (Dear Madam Chairwoman:) In accordance with section 506 of the Global Fragility Act of 2019 (GFA) (Public Law 116-94), I am transmitting the 10-year plans for implementing the U.S. Strategy to Prevent Conflict and Promote Stability in the priority partner countries and region selected by my Administration:  Haiti, Libya, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, and Coastal West Africa (Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, and Togo). I am enclosing copies of the cover message and the 10-year plans.                              Sincerely,                     JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.  Official news published at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/03/24/letter-to-certain-congressional-committees-on-implementing-the-u-s-strategy-to-prevent-conflict-and-promote-stability/

House of Commons of CanadaOttawa, Canada 2:52 P.M. EDT PRESIDENT BIDEN:  Good afternoon.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you. Good afternoon.  Bonjour, Canada.  (Applause.)   I must tell you, I took four years of French in school.  (Laughter.)  First time I attempted to make a speech in French, I was laughed at.  (Laughs.)  So, that’s as good as I can get right now. But, seriously, thank you very, very much. Speaker of the House of Commons, Speaker of the Senate, members of the Parliament, thank you for the very kind welcome to my wife and I. Prime Minister Trudeau,…