The Latest From the White House Office of Political Affairs
President Biden Approves Hawaii Disaster Declaration
On Thursday, August 10th, President Biden declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Hawaii and ordered Federal aid to supplement state and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by wildfires beginning on August 8, 2023, and continuing.
The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in Maui County.
Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster.
Residents and business owners who sustained losses in the designated areas can begin applying for assistance at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362), or by using the FEMA App. Anyone using a relay service, such as video relay service (VRS), captioned telephone service or others, can give FEMA the number for that service.
Read More on the President's Disaster Declaration Here
President Biden Releases Statement on July Consumer Price Inflation Report
On Thursday, August 10th, President Biden released a statement regarding the encouraging economic result reflected in July's Consumer Price Inflation Report. The report shows further evidence that Bidenomics is working. Annual inflation has fallen by around two thirds since last summer, and inflation outside of food and energy has fallen to its lowest level in any three-month period since September 2021.President Biden ran for office to grow the economy from the middle out and bottom up, not the top down, and that's exactly what he's doing.
Read the Presidents Statement Here: Statement from President Joe Biden on July Consumer Price Inflation Report
President Biden Delivers Remarks on One Year Anniversary of the PACT Act
On Thursday, August 10th, President Biden delivered remarks on the one year anniversary of the PACT Act. One year ago, President Biden signed the landmark bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act into law, enacting the most significant expansion of benefits and services for toxic exposed veterans in more than 30 years.
President Biden has made clear that supporting our veterans is a commitment that unites all Americans – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents — and it’s why he made supporting our veterans a core element of his Unity Agenda. The President joined veterans and their families at the George E. Wahlen Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, to discuss how this historic, bipartisan legislation has delivered lifesaving health care and benefits to more than 340,000 veterans and survivors.
The Biden-Harris administration also released new national and state-by-state data on PACT Act claims, which have been processed at record rates by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In the past year, the Administration has helped veterans across the country receive the services and care they deserve by:
Screening veterans for toxic exposures;
Delivering benefits to veterans and their survivors;
Prioritizing veterans with cancer;
Spreading the word to veterans and their survivors;
Increasing VA's capacity to serve veterans; and
Eliminating benefit delays for veterans.
President Biden Announces Grand Canyon National Monument
On Tuesday, August 8th, President Biden announced the designation of the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument -- Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kuknevi -- in conjunction with an announcement of a $44 million investment to strengthen climate resilience across America's National Parks system.
The marking of this National Monument will conserve nearly 1 million acres of greater Grand Canyon landscape sacred to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples. This designation exemplifies the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to protect America's natural wonders for future generations, honor culturally significant areas, and tell a more complete story of our nation.
In addition to the designation of the National Monument, and ahead of the 1-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris Administration announced $44 million to strengthen climate resilience across America's National Parks system, including 43 projects across 39 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Through his Investing in America agenda, President Biden has delivered record funding for conservation, climate action, and environmental justice.
FACT SHEET: President Biden Designates Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni -- Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: President Biden Designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument