What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
January 5, 2024 Recap
President Biden announced the 19 Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients, the highest U.S. civilian honor, which recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the nation or the world. The awards ceremony will be held at the White House on January 4, 2025.
Recipients and Contributions:
José Andrés: Chef and humanitarian known for disaster relief efforts through World Central Kitchen.
Bono: U2 frontman and activist against AIDS and poverty; co-founder of ONE and (RED).
Ashton B. Carter (posthumous): Former Secretary of Defense dedicated to national security.
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Historic political leader and the first woman nominated for U.S. president by a major party.
Michael J. Fox: Actor and advocate for Parkinson's disease research.
Tim Gill: Entrepreneur and LGBTQI rights advocate.
Jane Goodall: Conservationist and researcher on primates and human evolution.
Fannie Lou Hamer (posthumous): Civil rights activist pivotal in the Voting Rights Act.
Earvin “Magic” Johnson: Basketball legend and philanthropist supporting underserved communities.
Robert F. Kennedy (posthumous): Advocate for justice, equality, and poverty alleviation.
Ralph Lauren: Iconic fashion designer and philanthropist.
Lionel Messi: Soccer legend supporting global children's healthcare and education.
Bill Nye: Science educator and advocate for environmental and space exploration.
George W. Romney (posthumous): Public servant and former governor of Michigan.
David Rubenstein: Philanthropist supporting historic and cultural preservation.
George Soros: Philanthropist advocating democracy, human rights, and social justice globally.
George Stevens, Jr.: Founder of the American Film Institute and Kennedy Center Honors.
Denzel Washington: Acclaimed actor and philanthropist for youth empowerment.
Anna Wintour: Fashion icon and Met Gala fundraiser leader.
The honorees reflect a wide range of accomplishments in activism, the arts, science, politics, and philanthropy. They embody the values of leadership, decency, and service.
The President signed into law:
H.R. 670, the “Think Differently Database Act,” which requires HHS to establish a website to provide information on resources available to individuals with a disability and their caregivers and families.
H.R. 1318, the “Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act,” which authorizes a commemorative work to commemorate the women’s suffrage movement and the passage of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution.
H.R. 2997, the “Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act” or as the “CONVEY Act,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Mesa County, Colorado all rights, title, and interest of the United States to a specified property.
H.R. 3391, the “Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0,” which reauthorizes the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research program at the National Institutes of Health.
H.R. 5103, the “Fishery Improvement to Streamline untimely regulatory Hurdles post Emergency Situation Act or the FISHES Act,” which establishes procedures for the review of spend plans submitted to the Department of Commerce by requesters seeking fishery resource disaster assistance funding.
H.R. 5443, the “Accelerating Appraisals and Conservation Efforts Act” or the “AACE Act,” which authorizes non-Federal land appraisers to perform certain services on behalf of the Department of the Interior in any State.
H.R. 5887, the “Government Service Delivery Improvement Act,” which requires the designation of OMB and agency officials responsible for improving government service delivery.
H.R. 6062, which restores the ability of the people of American Samoa to approve amendments to the territorial constitution based on majority rule in a democratic act of self-determination, as authorized pursuant to an Act of Congress delegating administration of Federal territorial law in the territory to the President, and to the Secretary of the Interior under Executive Order 10264, dated June 29, 1951, under which the Constitution of American Samoa was approved and may be amended without requirement for further congressional action, subject to the authority of Congress under the Territorial Clause in article IV, section 3, clause 2 of the United States Constitution.
H.R. 6395, the “Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act of 2023,” which amends the Energy Act of 2020 to require the Secretary of the Interior to include the Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultations regarding designations of critical minerals, elements, substances, and materials.
H.R. 6492, the “Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences Act” or the “EXPLORE Act,” which improves recreation opportunities on, and facilitates greater access to, Federal public lands.
H.R. 6852, the “Holcombe Rucker Park National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates Holcombe Rucker Park as a National Commemorative Site.
H.R. 7158, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 East Battles Road in Santa Maria, California, as the “Larry Lavagnino Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7180, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 1st Street in Kingsland, Arkansas, as the “Kingsland ‘Johnny Cash’ Post Office”.
H.R. 7365, the “Veterans Expedited TSA Screening Safe Travel Act” or the “VETS Safe Travel Act,” which makes certain disabled veterans eligible for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) PreCheck Program at no cost if they meet the program’s background check and security requirements.
H.R. 7385, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 29 Franklin Street in Petersburg, Virginia, as the “John Mercer Langston Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7417, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 135 West Spring Street in Titusville, Pennsylvania, as the “Edwin L. Drake Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7507, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 East 6th Street in Lexington, Nebraska, as the William E. and Elsie L. Barrett Post Office Building.
H.R. 7508, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1285 Emancipation Highway in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as the “Gladys P. Todd Post Office.”
H.R. 7606, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1087 Route 47 South in Rio Grande, New Jersey, as the “Carlton H. Hand Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7607, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Block 1025, Lots 18 & 19, Northeast Corner of US Route 9 South and Main Street in the Township of Middle, County of Cape May, New Jersey, as the “George Henry White Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7893, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 306 Pickens Street in Marion, Alabama, as the “Albert Turner, Sr. Post Office Building.”
H.R. 7938, the “Klamath Basin Water Agreement Support Act of 2024,” which amends the Klamath Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2000 to provide the Secretary of the Interior with certain authorities affecting the Klamath Basin.
H.R. 8012, the “Jackie Robinson Ballpark National Commemorative Site Act,” which designates the Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, Florida, as a Commemorative Site and makes the Site a part of the African American Civil Rights Network.
H.R. 8057, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 9317 Bolsa Avenue in Westminster, California, as the “Little Saigon Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Post Office”.
H.R. 8641, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Main Street in Brawley, California, as the “Walter Francis Ulloa Memorial Post Office Building.”
H.R. 8666, which amends title 28, United States Code, to authorize holding court for the Central Division of Utah in Moab and Monticello.
H.R. 8667, which renames the community-based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Cadillac, Michigan, as the “Duane E. Dewey VA Clinic”.
H.R. 8717, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West Main Street in Santaquin, Utah, as the “SGT Bill Hooser Post Office Building.”
H.R. 8841, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 114 Center Street East in Roseau, Minnesota, as the “Floyd B. Olson Post Office.”
H.R. 8868, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 609 Portsmouth Avenue in Greenland, New Hampshire, as the “Chief Michael Maloney Post Office Building.”
H.R. 8909, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 82–6110 Mamalahoa Highway in Captain Cook, Hawaii, as the “Army 1st Lt. John Kuulei Kauhaihao Post Office Building.”
H.R. 8919, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 151 Highway 74 South in Peachtree City, Georgia, as the “SFC Shawn McCloskey Post Office.”
H.R. 8976, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 West White Street in Millstadt, Illinois, as the “Corporal Matthew A. Wyatt Post Office.”
H.R. 9076, the “Supporting America’s Children and Families Act,” which reauthorizes and modify child welfare grant programs and child support enforcement.
H.R. 9124, which names the Department of Veterans Affairs community-based outpatient clinic in Auburn, California, as the “Louis A. Conter VA Clinic”.
H.R. 9285, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3913 Leland Avenue Northwest in Comstock Park, Michigan, as the “Captain Miguel Justin Nava Post Office.”
H.R. 9322, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway in Akron, Ohio, as the “Judge James R. Williams Post Office Building.”
H.R. 9421, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 108 North Main Street in Bucoda, Washington, as the “Mayor Rob Gordon Post Office.”
H.R. 9487, the “House Office of Legislative Counsel Modernization Act,” which authorizes the Legislative Counsel of the House of Representatives to designate more than one of the attorneys of the Office of the Legislative Counsel as a Deputy Legislative Counsel.
H.R. 9544, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 340 South Loudon Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the “United States Representative Elijah E. Cummings Post Office Building.”
H.R. 9549, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 South 1st Avenue in Hillsboro, Oregon, as the “Elizabeth Furse Post Office Building.”
H.R. 9580, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2777 Brentwood Road in Raleigh, North Carolina, as the “Millie Dunn Veasey Post Office.”
H.R. 9592, the “Federal Register Modernization Act of 2024,” which provides for changes to the Federal Register and the Code of Federal Regulations.
H.R. 9600, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 Main Street in Plains, Georgia, as the “Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Post Office.”
H.R. 9775, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 119 North Anderson Street in Elwood, Indiana, as the “Officer Noah Jacob Shahnavaz Post Office Building.”
H.R. 10065, which designates the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 802 North Tancahua Street in Corpus Christi, Texas, as the “Captain Robert E. ‘Bob’ Batterson Post Office.”
S. 2181, the “Keeping Military Families Together Act of 2024,” which extends two current Department of Veterans Affairs burial authorities.
S. 4367, the “Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024,” which authorizes construction of Army Corps of Engineers water resources projects for flood risk management, navigation, hurricane and storm damage risk reduction, and ecosystem restoration; modifies previously authorized projects; and contains other water related provisions.
During a public ceremony at the White House, President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act, a bipartisan bill to rectify long-standing inequities in Social Security benefits for public service workers. The law impacts nearly 2.5 million Americans and restores full Social Security benefits to teachers, nurses, first responders, and other public employees previously denied their rightful payments due to outdated provisions. Many workers were forced to work second jobs to make ends meet, only to find their Social Security benefits reduced or withheld entirely. Survivors and spouses of public employees also faced similar denials, leading to financial insecurity for many families.
Under the new law, affected workers will see an average monthly increase of $360 in their Social Security payments. Additionally, they will receive a one-time lump sum payment of thousands of dollars to compensate for the benefits they were unfairly denied. President Biden highlighted the significance of the act, emphasizing that every American who works hard deserves to retire with dignity and economic security. He acknowledged the decades-long fight to achieve this victory, led by advocates such as Betty Marafino and grassroots activists who rallied, lobbied Congress and garnered over 110,000 petition signatures to repeal the unfair provisions. Among the advocates was 17-year-old Alicio from Texas, who walked 1,600 miles to Washington, D.C., to support his grandmother, a retired teacher affected by the law.
President Biden reaffirmed his commitment to protecting and expanding Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, stressing that no American should face financial hardship in retirement. He called for wealthier Americans to pay their fair share to ensure the long-term sustainability of these programs. This legislation builds on Biden’s broader efforts to support working families and retirees, following earlier actions like the Butch Lewis Act, which protected union pensions. The president concluded by celebrating the contributions of middle-class workers who have built the nation, vowing to continue fighting for their dignity and economic security.
President Biden issued a statement expressing pride in signing the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act, which authorizes the placement of a monument on the National Mall to honor the women’s suffrage movement. The monument will commemorate the ratification of the 19th Amendment, recognize generations of women who fought for equal rights, and honor leaders who advocated for the enfranchisement of all women. Biden emphasized his and Vice President Harris's commitment to defending equal rights, recognizing women's historical contributions, and inspiring future generations to strive for greater equality.
President Biden warmly welcomed the newly elected Democratic members of Congress and congratulated them and their families on their achievements during a reception in their honor. He emphasized the significance of embracing the institution of Congress and striving to improve it through collaboration and dedication. Drawing from his personal experiences, the President shared a poignant story about the tragic loss of his wife and daughter shortly after his election to the Senate. He recounted how bipartisan support and personal relationships with colleagues helped him navigate that difficult time and underscored the importance of fostering trust and understanding in legislative work.
Biden urged the new members to prioritize building relationships across party lines, emphasizing that collaboration and understanding differing perspectives are essential for achieving meaningful progress. He reflected on the need to avoid personalizing political disagreements and to respect the diverse constituencies that each member represents. The President stressed that compromise and consensus are often the only ways to accomplish significant goals, drawing on his decades of experience in public service.
The President reflected on the January 6th attack on the Capitol, calling it a pivotal moment in American history that underscored the fragility of democracy. He highlighted the importance of protecting democratic institutions and traditions, including the peaceful transfer of power, and urged the members to honor and uphold their constitutional duties. Biden also discussed the evolving global landscape, stressing the need for strong alliances like NATO and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to address challenges such as climate change, defense, and global stability.
Biden offered advice to the new members, encouraging them to act with integrity, engage in bipartisan dialogue, and seek common ground without compromising their core principles. He emphasized that understanding colleagues’ perspectives and building personal connections are critical to legislative success. The President expressed his confidence in their abilities, noting their qualifications and potential to drive meaningful change. He concluded with a call for unity, urging the new members to work toward restoring trust in American democracy and fostering a collaborative political environment for the nation's benefit.
President Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act, expanding Social Security benefits for millions of teachers, firefighters, nurses, police officers, other public employees, and their spouses and survivors
