{"id":114898,"date":"2021-02-18T15:45:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-18T23:45:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=114898"},"modified":"2021-02-18T15:45:43","modified_gmt":"2021-02-18T23:45:43","slug":"press-by-jen-psaki-and-homeland-security-advisor-liz-sherwood-randal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=114898","title":{"rendered":"Press Briefing by Jen Psaki and Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC..,Good afternoon, everyone.\u00a0 Thank you for joining us on this snow day.\u00a0 And we wanted to ensure we held a briefing today to, of course, keep our streak going and ensure we were being as transparent and open as possible to all of you and the questions you have on a daily basis.  And as we like to do, we have also secured an excellent policy advisor.\u00a0 Today we are joined by Homeland Security Advisor and Deputy National Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.\u00a0 She will discuss the administration\u2019s continued efforts around the winter storm impacting Texas, Oklahoma, and other states in the central United States.\u00a0 And then she has time to take just a couple of questions before she needs to get back to her day job of, of course, monitoring the storm.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UPm1zN3azOw\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>But a little background on Liz before I turn it over to her: She was the Deputy Secretary at the U.S. Department of Energy from 2014 through 2017.\u00a0 Earlier in the Obama administration, she served as White House Coordinator for Defense Policy, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction, and Arms Control.\u00a0 Prior to that, she was Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for European Affairs at the National Security Council.\u00a0 In the Clinton administration, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia.\u00a0 And she began her career working for then-Senator Joe Biden as his chief advisor on foreign and defense policy.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll turn it over to Liz, she\u2019ll take a couple questions, and then I will do a briefing after that.<\/p>\n<p>So, Liz, the floor is yours.<\/p>\n<p>DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL:\u00a0 Thanks very much, Jen. \u00a0And hello to everyone.\u00a0 I\u2019m sorry we can\u2019t be doing this in person.\u00a0 As we in the White House have continued to monitor the situation with the extreme weather in the South, I\u2019m glad to share an update with you on what we\u2019ve been doing and to provide you with some context for the beginning of this effort.<\/p>\n<p>As the initial storm system began to bear down on the South, I reached out last weekend, on behalf of the President, to Texas Governor Abbott and then on Monday, also, to Louisiana Governor Edwards, Alabama Governor Ivey, Mississippi Governor Reeves, Oklahoma Governor Stitt, and Kansas Governor Kelly to offer any federal assistance that the governors might need to help their citizens to manage what we anticipated to be the brutal effects of the gathering storm.<\/p>\n<p>Then, on Tuesday, February 16, President Biden called a broader group of governors, and there\u2019s been extensive follow-up with respect to those governors\u2019 conversations with the President on specifics they discussed during that call.<\/p>\n<p>For example, we responded immediately to Governor Abbott\u2019s request for a federal emergency declaration.\u00a0 Oklahoma Governor Stitt submitted a request yesterday, and it was approved last night for a federal emergency declaration.\u00a0 And late last night, we received a request from Louisiana Governor Bel Edwards, and FEMA is processing that request as we speak.<\/p>\n<p>The President\u2019s actions authorized FEMA to provide immediate assistance to alleviate the hardship and suffering that\u2019s being caused by this emergency.<\/p>\n<p>And let me just note there is a silver lining to the very dark cloud of COVID, which is that our FEMA teams have been deeply embedded for quite a long time with state emergency preparedness and response agencies across the country and in this affected region.\u00a0 And so there\u2019s a great deal of familiarity among the people involved in needing to work these issues now, because they\u2019ve been working together quite a while on COVID response.<\/p>\n<p>This morning, I was also in touch with the leadership of FEMA and also with the Department of Energy, and our private sector partners in the electricity sector, to explore whether there is anything more that we can do to provide support for our citizens across this swath of territory who are suffering from the effects of this storm.<\/p>\n<p>We know that there are still about a million or more people who are experiencing power outages in the hardest-hit areas of the country, though those numbers are declining significantly.\u00a0 In Texas in particular, we\u2019ve gone from multiple millions of people without power, now to approximately 600,000 at the last data point that I received from FEMA earlier this morning.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s important to set expectations, however, that due to the nature of this storm, citizens will continue to experience rolling power outages in some communities.\u00a0 And that\u2019s just part of the process of trying to get power online and to get it delivered where it needs to go.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, FEMA is providing generators to support water treatment plants and hospitals and nursing homes in Texas.\u00a0 It\u2019s also providing blankets and meals and other supplies as requested by the governor of Texas.<\/p>\n<p>I want to express our deep thanks to all of the brave first responders who have continued to deliver essential aid to those in need in these very difficult circumstances.\u00a0 There are many infrastructure workers who are responding under extraordinarily challenging conditions to restore energy and water systems.\u00a0 And there are lots and lots of citizen volunteers who have selflessly extended themselves to help others.<\/p>\n<p>We are urging all people affected by the storm to listen to public officials: to take precautions to stay indoors, not to get on the roads unless they absolutely have to.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m just going to step back and make a couple of more observations, which is that, more broadly, the extreme weather events that we\u2019re experiencing this week across the central, southern, and now the eastern United States do yet again demonstrate to us that climate change is real and it\u2019s happening now, and we\u2019re not adequately prepared for it.\u00a0 And in particular, power grids across our country, particularly in Texas, are overloaded by the demands that are placed on them under these circumstances, and the infrastructure is not built to withstand these extreme conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Going forward, we will be leading an effort to strengthen and harden our critical infrastructure so that it can be prepared to meet the full spectrum of challenges that we\u2019re likely to face in the future.\u00a0 We know that we can\u2019t just react to extreme weather events; we actually need to plan for them and prepare for them.\u00a0 That\u2019s going to require the kind of technology, innovation, and close collaboration among the federal government, states, communities, and the private sector that enables us to incentivize the kinds of actions that need to be taken to build critically \u2014 to build the kind of resilient infrastructure that we will depend on in the future.<\/p>\n<p>President Biden continues to pledge the full support of the federal government to these efforts and is demonstrating his commitment to serve all Americans in these difficult times, working across the states of the South to deliver any federal support that is requested by the leadership of those states.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you.\u00a0 And now I\u2019m glad to take a couple of questions.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Zeke Miller, you\u2019re open.\u00a0 Please go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you so much for doing the call.\u00a0 In terms of \u2014 can you give us a rundown of the number \u2014 the resources that FEMA has sent to Texas?\u00a0 You know, the number of generators, the number of meals, or any of, sort of, data you have on that.<\/p>\n<p>And then, to your point about hardening the grid, what role does the federal government have in making the Texas grid more resilient, given that it is largely separate from federal oversight?<\/p>\n<p>DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL:\u00a0 Let me start with FEMA.\u00a0 The update I have from FEMA this morning for what it has provided to Texas is, as I noted, it has moved water blankets, shelf-stable meals, and generators and fuel to help respond to this event.<\/p>\n<p>Specifically in Texas, it has made 60 generators and fuel available to support critical sites like hospitals and water facilities.\u00a0 It has moved in 729,000 liters of water, more than 10,000 wool blankets, 50,000 cotton blankets, and 225,000 meals.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s also deploying additional capabilities as we speak, trying to be postured for additional demands that Texas may place \u2014 additional requests that Texas may express to FEMA for needs that FEMA can respond to.\u00a0 So, for example, trying to figure out how to get more fuel, oil, and diesel oil in, if necessary, to power facilities in this emergency.<\/p>\n<p>To the question about the Texas grid: You\u2019re right, the Texas grid is islanded \u2014 that\u2019s islanded.\u00a0 That is a deliberate decision that was made by Texas.\u00a0 But I do think, going forward, there\u2019s an important conversation to be had around how we can enhance the resilience of our critical infrastructure to meet the needs of all our citizens.\u00a0 For now, we\u2019re focused obviously on these days.\u00a0 The future will give us an opportunity to conduct that discussion at the federal, state, and local level.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Next we have Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg News.\u00a0 You\u2019re open.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi.\u00a0 Thanks, Liz.\u00a0 The Texas governor has ordered gas producers in Texas to sell their product within the state, effectively barring exports and potentially jeopardizing foreign allies that are reliant on those supplies. \u00a0It raises some Commerce Clause questions and issues under the Natural Gas Act.\u00a0 Is there anything you can say about whether the Biden administration is okay with all that?<\/p>\n<p>DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL:\u00a0 So we\u2019re aware of the decisions of the Texas state officials.\u00a0 This is an authority that is a state authority.\u00a0 And we\u2019re in discussion with our Mexican partners, as well as with the state officials around the decision that the state officials are taking.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 And next, we have the line of Ken Thomas.\u00a0 Will you please press 1-0 again?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 And while we\u2019re waiting for that, this will have to be the last question.\u00a0 Dr. Sherwood-Randall needs to go back to her day job of monitoring the storm, but we\u2019ll invite her back when we are all back in the briefing room.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 And, Ken, you\u2019re open.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.\u00a0 Ken, do you want to press \u2014 press 1-0 again.\u00a0 You took yourself out.\u00a0 Please press 1-0.\u00a0 You\u2019re open.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you hear me now?<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Can you hear me now?<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Great.\u00a0 Dr. Sherwood-Randall, what additional steps can the federal government take to relieve the power grid in Texas?\u00a0 I understand that the Energy Department could use some kind of emergency authority to connect Texas to the national grid.\u00a0 Is that under consideration?<\/p>\n<p>DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL:\u00a0 So that\u2019s \u2014 that is actually not something that is physically feasible at this time.\u00a0 We have already seen the Energy Department take the decision to enable Texas to use generation capabilities that otherwise would be constrained by regulation having to do with what is emitted by those sources of supply in those generation facilities.\u00a0 So, essentially, to relax some of the standards on \u2014 in an emergency for pollution so that they can generate sufficient power while some of their sources are offline or reduced.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Okay, thank you.\u00a0 Thank you, Dr. Sherwood-Randall, for joining us.\u00a0 We appreciate you taking the time out of a very busy week for you, and we look forward to welcoming you into the briefing room when you\u2019re next available.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>DR. SHERWOOD-RANDALL:\u00a0 It was a pleasure to be with you.\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Bye-bye.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 So I have a few \u2014 just more additional updates to provide to all of you, and then we will take as many questions as we can in the time allotted.<\/p>\n<p>First, the federal government is also monitoring the weather\u2019s impacts on our vaccination efforts.\u00a0 We are experiencing delays in COVID-19 vaccine shipments and deliveries.\u00a0 CDC and federal partners are working closely with the jurisdictions, as well as manufacturing and shipping partners, to assess weather conditions and to help mitigate potential delivery days \u2014 delays and cancellations.<\/p>\n<p>Our COVID response team is in constant communication with local officials, hearing about what\u2019s going on on the ground.\u00a0 By doing so, we\u2019re able to work to deploy the resources of the federal government, to the extent we can, to address issues related to deliveries, distribution, and vaccinations.<\/p>\n<p>This week we\u2019ve already had and will continue to field many one-on-one calls, correspond to email, and conduct Zoom meetings with states, tribes, territories, and key partners to remain in close contact about our vaccination efforts and the impact of the storm.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re also working with our partners to move up scheduled deliveries whenever possible and to surge shipment operations through the end of the week into the weekend.\u00a0 We\u2019re in conversation about extended hours and additional appointments to try and reschedule shots, given the storm.<\/p>\n<p>Our goal is to ensure vaccine distribution across all jurisdictions is as stable and equitable as possible through this program, and we continue to monitor and work closely with jurisdictions and pharmacy partners to achieve that goal.<\/p>\n<p>And then, I would expect tomorrow that when you all have your \u2014 one of the three weekly updates from the COVID team, they will provide a more extensive update on this and also answer any questions you have about the work that they have been focused on.<\/p>\n<p>Second is: Today, President Biden\u2019s immigration bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act, will be formally introduced in Congress.\u00a0 This legislation modernizes our immigration system.\u00a0 It provides hardworking people, who have enriched our communities and lived here for decades, an opportunity to earn citizenship.<\/p>\n<p>The President\u2019s priorities, reflected in this bill, are to responsibly manage the border, keep families together, grow our economy, address the root causes of migration from Central America, and ensure that America remains a refuge for those fleeing persecution.<\/p>\n<p>The President believes all of these require immediate action that is long overdue.\u00a0 Immigration reform is not historically a Democratic or Republican priority, but an American one.\u00a0 Modernizing it is long overdue \u2014 the system.<\/p>\n<p>We expect elected officials from both sides of the aisle to come to the table so we can finally get this done.<\/p>\n<p>I also wanted to note numbers out this morning on new unemployment claims.\u00a0 Jobless claims increased, and for 48 weeks in a row now, new regular unemployment claims have outpaced their pre-pandemic high.\u00a0 Combined with stalled job growth over the last three months, we have a clear picture of the trouble our economy is in and the financial pain being felt by millions of Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Economists, experts, and leaders across the political spectrum have come out and supported the Rescue Plan because they know it\u2019s the best tool we have to get us through this economic storm, create millions of jobs, and get Americans back to work.<\/p>\n<p>Also, many of you have been asking for a preview of the President\u2019s remarks and engagement remotely at the G7 Munich Security Conference tomorrow.\u00a0 So let me venture to do that, and then we\u2019ll take your questions.<\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow morning \u2014 or I will take your questions, I should say.\u00a0 Tomorrow morning, President Biden will join fellow world leaders at a virtual gathering of the G7.\u00a0 This will be the first gathering of G7 leaders since April of 2020.\u00a0 This virtual engagement with leaders of the world\u2019s leading democratic market economies will provide an opportunity for President Biden to discuss plans to defeat the COVID-19 pandemic and rebuild the global economy.<\/p>\n<p>President Biden will focus on a global response to the COVID pandemic, including coordination on vaccine production, distribution, and supplies, as well as continued efforts to mobilize and cooperate against the threat of emerging infectious diseases by building country capacity and establishing health security financing.<\/p>\n<p>In January, on President Biden\u2019s first day in office, he announced that the United States would reengage with the World Health Organization to strengthen global health.\u00a0 His first national security memorandum was focused on COVID-19 and the relationship between a safe and secure United States; defeating COVID-19; improving global health; and advancing domestic and global health security to prevent, detect, and respond to future biological catastrophes.<\/p>\n<p>The administration has pledged the United States will join the COVAX initiative to purchase and distribute vaccines globally and through a multilateral mechanism.\u00a0 These global efforts reinforce the President\u2019s progress to address the COVID pandemic at home, including increasing the pace of vaccinations, instituting public health measures for safe travel, and providing schools with scientific guidance for safe operations.<\/p>\n<p>President Biden will also discuss the global economic recovery, including the importance of all industrialized countries maintaining economic support for the recovery and collective measures to build back better.<\/p>\n<p>As we build back better, we must ensure that the recovery is inclusive and benefits all workers, including women and members of historically disadvantaged groups in all parts of our country.<\/p>\n<p>He will also discuss the need to make investments to strengthen our collective competitiveness and the importance of updating global rules to tackle economic challenges such as those posed by China.<\/p>\n<p>Finally, President Biden and other leaders will also discuss a robust agenda of measures to address the global climate crisis, a key priority for the administration.<\/p>\n<p>The February 19th virtual engagement will be hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson as part of this year\u2019s UK\u2019s G7 presidency and ahead of the planned G7 Summit in June of 2021.<\/p>\n<p>Also \u2014 I will stop there.\u00a0 With that, I\u2019m happy to open it up and take your questions.\u00a0 And we want to take \u2014 I want to take as many as possible.\u00a0 So we always love follow-ups, but we want to get to as many people as possible as we have an opportunity to do this virtually today.<\/p>\n<p>So, Art, we\u2019re ready to open it up.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Zeke Miller, with the Associated Press, you\u2019re open.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Zeke.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Sorry, Zeke, press 1-0 again.\u00a0 You might have took yourself out.\u00a0 One moment.\u00a0 Once again, Zeke, if you\u2019re still on, please press 1-0.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ll move on.\u00a0 We have Jennifer Jacobs, Bloomberg News.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Jennifer.\u00a0 (Inaudible) slightly \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 \u2014 but we\u2019re trying.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Question about reports on the recovery package being about $3 trillion for jobs and infrastructure, as part of the President\u2019s Build Back Better program.\u00a0 Is this $3 trillion about in the ballpark that you\u2019re talking about?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, Jennifer, let me first say that right now, the administration\u2019s sole priority, our sole priority is getting the American Rescue Plan passed, which means getting shots in the arms of the American people, getting families urgent economic relief they need, ensuring communities have the resources they need in the fight against COVID.<\/p>\n<p>I would not expect the President or any of us to lay out next pieces of his agenda until that package is through and signed, and that release is out \u2014 going out to the public.<\/p>\n<p>So there have been a range of reports, but what I can confirm for you is that there are discussions that are ongoing about the President\u2019s agenda.\u00a0 Looking ahead, no final decision has been made, and we\u2019re certainly not at the point where we are either finalizing or previewing his future proposals.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Andrea Shalal of Reuters.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Andrea.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you, Jen.\u00a0 Hi.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI: I\u2019m happy to hear you.\u00a0 I was getting a little worried (inaudible).<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I wanted to ask you about a little bit more on the technical (inaudible) infrastructure (inaudible), but I\u2019m getting an echo.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I can hear you (inaudible) in \u2014 in and out a little bit, but maybe, could you start your question from the top?<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, I just put on a headset.\u00a0 I think that\u2019ll make it easier.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay, so my question is: \u00a0What \u2014 we just heard about the forthcoming efforts to shore up the infrastructure grid in Texas.\u00a0 Do you have any idea whether that will be included in the recovery package that you\u2019re talking about?\u00a0 Would that be a separate measure?\u00a0 Do you have any kind of sense of the price tag of that?<\/p>\n<p>And I just have a separate question on the COVAX effort.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 There is a waiver that has been proposed by India and South Africa that would temporarily suspend intellectual property protections to ensure that vaccines can get to places in developing countries.\u00a0 Is that something that the United States supports?\u00a0 It was blocked by the previous administration.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, let me first say, on COVAX, that I suspect we\u2019ll have more news on the \u2014 in the next 24 hours on our engagements and contributions to the overall global effort.\u00a0 But our commitment is to work with and through COVAX to ensure that we are both \u2014 there is equitable distribution of vaccines and funding globally, and also that there is a standard through which these vaccines are considered and distributed.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m happy to talk to our team about that specific waiver, but again, I just wanted to reiterate that we are planning \u2014 we are committed to working through COVAX, and we\u2019ll have more on our global \u2014 on our contribution to the global effort in the next 24 hours.\u00a0 I believe there\u2019s also going to be a call later this afternoon to outline that in more specific detail.<\/p>\n<p>On your first question \u2014 and your first question, can you just say that one more time?\u00a0 I apologize.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, I basically was asking about the need to shore up the power grid that we\u2019ve just seen now in Texas, and whether that is already part of the recovery; what you think about the recovery plan, whether it will be folded in; and if you have any estimates of what that specific component of (inaudible) infrastructure (inaudible) would entail.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, I would first say that, again, our sole priority right now is getting the American Rescue Plan passed.\u00a0 There are \u2014 there is still more work to be done on that front.\u00a0 We are \u2014 we have our foot on the gas, and we are remaining engaged with Democrats and Republicans on the Hill about moving that forward.\u00a0 It is not on the President\u2019s desk, it is not signed, and it is not \u2014 that release is not in the hands of the American people.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, there are ongoing discussions internally and with stakeholders in consultation about what the agenda looks like \u2014 what the President\u2019s agenda looks like moving forward.\u00a0 But no final decisions have been made, and so I\u2019m not in a position, naturally, to preview that.\u00a0 But I wouldn\u2019t expect that we will preview anything or you\u2019ll hear the President talk about it until the American Rescue Plan is passed.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of your question about Texas: As Dr. Sherwood-Randall conveyed, clearly, you know, there is a need to assess and take a look at how we protect and support critical infrastructure across the country, including our national energy grids, and ensure that we are better prepared in the future.<\/p>\n<p>There is plenty of time to have that conversation.\u00a0 Right now, our focus is on working every lever that we have at our disposal through the federal government to get relief to the people of Texas.<\/p>\n<p>So I don\u2019t have anything to preview for you, other than to convey that our focus is the \u2014 on the emergency at hand, and that is what we are putting our internal and interagency efforts on.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And, Jen, can I just follow up?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Yep.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Has the President reached out to Governor Abbott (inaudible) and asked him to try to stick to the facts in terms of (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I apologize, Andrea.\u00a0 You\u2019re kind of coming in and out.\u00a0 Can you just start that again?\u00a0 I heard \u201cGovernor Abbott,\u201d but I didn\u2019t hear the rest of the question.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay.\u00a0 Has the President reached out to Governor Abbott to ask him to stick to the facts on the cause of the (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 The President spoke with Governor Abbott \u2014 I believe it was two days ago \u2014 and conveyed his commitment to helping utilize the resources available from the federal government to help the people of Texas.<\/p>\n<p>We are engaged at many levels, as Dr. Sherwood-Randall conveyed, with governors, with members of their teams, with FEMA, with local authorities to ensure that relief is getting into the right hands and into the right communities.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t have an additional call to read out for you now.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Nancy Cordes at CBS News.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Nancy.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi, Jen.\u00a0 How are you?\u00a0 Thank you for doing this remotely.\u00a0 My first question is about the immigration bill.\u00a0 And I know you addressed this a little bit yesterday, but what\u2019s the White House take on the pros and cons of passing parts of the immigration plan instead of doing it in one fell swoop?\u00a0 A number of these congressional Democrats seem to be very open to the possibility of doing it in a piecemeal fashion.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 Well, first, the bill being introduced today is \u2014 represents much as President Biden\u2019s vision, which includes addressing some key components of what he feels needs to be modernized in our system, including providing an earned path to citizenship \u2014 which includes, of course, DREAMers; responsibly and effectively managing our borders; investing in smart security; and addressing the root causes of migration from Central America.<\/p>\n<p>He feels these are \u2014 each of these components are vital and imperative to address our outdated immigration system.<\/p>\n<p>Now, he also, having served in the Senate for 36 years, is no stranger to the process of a bill becoming a law, and he is looking forward to working directly with members, hopefully of both parties \u2014 immigration is not \u2014 immigration reform, I should say, has not historically been a Democratic or Republican issue \u2014 to determine what the path forward looks like.<\/p>\n<p>And he is all too familiar \u2014 or very familiar with the fact that a bill proposed does typically not look like the final bill signed.\u00a0 But it is just being formally proposed today.\u00a0 We are eager to work with Democrats, Republicans, members of the CHC, others who have been working passionately on these issues for a long period of time.<\/p>\n<p>And at this point, you know, he\u2019s just looking forward to having a bill to sign at his desk.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks.\u00a0 And then, what is the White House take on this concern that has been voiced by some House Democrats, like Henry Cuellar or Vicente Gonzalez, that if you put out something this ambitious this early, that it\u2019s, first, going to motivate a surge of migrants to try to come here, and also open up President Biden to attempts by Republicans to try to paint him as soft on immigration?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, you know, I would say on the \u2014 the fact that the President put forward \u2014 felt it was a priority to put forward an immigration bill on his first day in office just reflects his own commitment to modernizing an outdated system and also taking every step he can to move forward from the chaos, cruelty, and confusion that was created by the immigration policies of the last four years.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s not \u2014 that\u2019s not a position or an approach that\u2019s being done through a political prism, but through a moral prism: what is right for the country; what is right for the millions of immigrants who are living in the shadows; and, frankly, what is right for our security at the border; and what is right for addressing the root causes that led to the crisis at the border that \u2014 that we have seen over the course of the last several years.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, as we have done many times, we will continue to convey and repeat from (inaudible) level the need \u2014 the fact that this is not the right time to come.\u00a0 We have not \u2014 we don\u2019t have the systems in place.\u00a0 We don\u2019t have the policies in place.\u00a0 We don\u2019t have the laws in place or the processing in place at the border to consider a wave of people fleeing their countries.<\/p>\n<p>We are \u2014 this is a priority; we\u2019re eager to get it through.\u00a0 And we\u2019re also going to take additional steps, as you\u2019ve seen from the Department of Homeland Security in their efforts to increase processing, through executive action, to inject some morality into this system.\u00a0 But this is not the time to come.\u00a0 We are eager to move forward this \u2014 with this as quickly as possible.\u00a0 And him proposing it on the first day, moving it forward within a month, is a reflection of that priority.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks, Jen.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Thank you, Nancy.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Francesca Chambers of McClatchy.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Francesca.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi, can you hear me?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I can.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay, great.\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Thanks, Jen, for doing this.\u00a0 So, two questions related to the disaster relief aid, and then something on another topic \u2014 I guess we can take them separately to make this easier.<\/p>\n<p>Is there federal assistance or aid available to municipalities who previously paid or are paying high gas prices for natural gas, or does that assistance depend on a state request?\u00a0 For instance, the State of Missouri, would they have to make that request for a municipality?<\/p>\n<p>And then, on a related topic: Liz Sherwood-Randall had mentioned a request from Louisiana for disaster relief aid, but what about the other states that have been affected and whose governors the President spoke with earlier this week, such as Kansas or Kentucky?\u00a0 Have they requested aid?\u00a0 And if so, when could they expect to get that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 Well, Francesca, I would say typically how it works is that states request \u2014 or in coordination, of course \u2014 a declaration of an emergency \u2014 you know, a disaster declaration, and we work closely with them at the federal level to do exactly that.<\/p>\n<p>We have been sharing with all of you our engagements on a daily basis, so you all are kept abreast of those conversations.\u00a0 But I would certainly point you to some of the state governments on what their needs are and requests, and what they\u2019ve been requesting specifically of the federal government to ensure it\u2019s helping provide the assistance to the people in their states that\u2019s needed during this difficult time of the storm.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s an excellent question about municipalities.\u00a0 I will have to follow up with our homeland security team on that specific technical question.\u00a0 A good one, but maybe we can connect you with them directly after the briefing.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Okay, and then on another topic.\u00a0 The Vice President said today that she views the number of women leaving the workforce as a national emergency.\u00a0 Does the President share the Vice President\u2019s view on that?\u00a0 And if so, does he plan to make a national emergency declaration and take action to address the declining number of women in the workforce, aside from the stimulus package that he\u2019s presented to Congress?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, Francesca, I would first say that this is something the President and Vice President have discussed and he has raised with \u2014 in a number of meetings I have been in with him \u2014 his concern about the impact of the dual crises of COVID-19 and the economic downturn on women in the workforce.<\/p>\n<p>As you well know, it is not just about women who are leaving the workforce now; it is about what the impact will be on future years if there are women taking themselves out of the running for moving up the corporate ladder; out of the running for seeking PhDs, for getting law degrees; you know, women taking themselves off of the frontlines of essential industries like healthcare work.\u00a0 That has an impact, of course, on gender equality.\u00a0 It also has an impact on the economy moving forward, and any economist will convey that to you.<\/p>\n<p>So the President has conveyed, in many meetings I\u2019ve been in, his concern about this directly, and I know he\u2019s discussed it with the Vice President as well.<\/p>\n<p>I would say the American Rescue Plan \u2014 the key components in there, some are meant to help address exactly this crisis, including funding to reopen schools.<\/p>\n<p>As a mom myself, I can confirm for you, and many mothers across the country can confirm for you, that \u2014 the fact that schools still need additional resources to reopen.\u00a0 Obviously, the CDC guidelines give us a good guidepost \u2014 give school districts a good guidepost, but many still need funding.\u00a0 That having kids go back to school has an impact on many working mothers, of course.<\/p>\n<p>Also, ensuring direct relief goes out through checks.\u00a0 That\u2019s something who will help \u2014 that will help households, whether they are single-parent households or dual-income households, where one of the individuals was laid off.\u00a0 Ten million Americans have been laid off, so there\u2019s no question many of them \u2014 as we know, statistically \u2014 are certainly women.\u00a0 And certainly, getting people vaccinated will help more people return to the workforce, more child \u2014 more kids go to childcare centers, and again, schools, as I said.<\/p>\n<p>So I would say, the President recognizes the severity of this crisis, the impact on women.\u00a0 That\u2019s part of the reason why he \u2014 why there are some of these key components in this package.\u00a0 And he certainly agrees with the Vice President\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 He agrees that it\u2019s a national emergency?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 He agrees, certainly, that it\u2019s an emergency and a crisis, Francesca.<\/p>\n<p>But I think we\u2019re going to move on because I want to take a few more questions.\u00a0 And we\u2019ll certainly connect you with \u2014 on the municipalities question.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks, Jen.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Jeremy Diamond of CNN.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hey, Jeremy.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, Jen.\u00a0 Thanks for doing this.\u00a0 So on the immigration bill: You know, obviously, front burner for you guys right now is the coronavirus relief legislation, so I\u2019m curious if you could explain, on the decision to introduce this today, you know, why now while there\u2019s clearly a higher priority for you guys, as it relates to Congress.<\/p>\n<p>And then secondly, you know, there isn\u2019t much in the way of new funding for border security and enforcement in this bill.\u00a0 I\u2019m wondering if the President is open to increasing funding for border security, including for more wall or fencing construction in order to get this bill through.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, first let me say that the President introduced \u2014 or, I should say, announced his plans to introduce this package \u2014 to work with Congress to introduce this package on his first day in office, because he believes that modernizing our immigration system is an absolute priority for the country and that we are able to \u2014 members of Congress are able to move forward in negotiating the components of the package and what it will look like in a final package, even while we are pushing forward on our effort to get the American Rescue Plan passed.<\/p>\n<p>And, as you all know, Jeremy, and many people on the phone know, there is \u2014 there are negotiations that will need to happen.\u00a0 This is \u2014 there was a reset that was really needed to get an immigration bill discussed and negotiated, and that is what our effort is to do here.<\/p>\n<p>As you know, Representative S\u00e1nchez, Senator Menendez are starting this process.\u00a0 And we certainly are eager to have many more co-sponsors \u2014 Republicans \u2014 join that, given that this has historically been an issue Democrats and Republicans are committed to.<\/p>\n<p>There is, of course, funding in here.\u00a0 One of the key components of the bill is investing in smart security at our ports of entry and doing it in a way that\u2019s actually effective.\u00a0 The funding \u2014 the entire strategy of the last four years was to do funding for a wall that was not effective in securing our border.\u00a0 It was not effective in providing a pathway to citizenship.\u00a0 Obviously, it was not effective at addressing the root causes.\u00a0 That is not our strategy.\u00a0 But there will be a discussion and a negotiation.<\/p>\n<p>We certainly understand that the sausage that comes out of the machine on the other side will look different from the sausage that\u2019s introduced today.\u00a0 We\u2019re supportive of that, and we\u2019ll look forward to working with Congress to get the bill moving forward.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 And just real quickly on another topic.\u00a0 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, yesterday, threatened to move a pop-up vaccination clinic after facing criticism from some county officials.\u00a0 He threatened to move it to another county.\u00a0 Would that kind of action by Governor DeSantis or any other governor affect federal government shipments of vaccines to Florida and prompt the federal government to take oversight of vaccination deliveries and administration in the state?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, first let me say that our effort to vaccinate \u2014 get 100 million vaccines in the arms of American \u2014 100 million shots in the arms of Americans, I should say, in the first 100 days, and exceed that goal, is not through a political prism.\u00a0 And we certainly would not support any effort to, you know, have the people of Florida or any state \u2014 Democrat or Republican, blue or red \u2014 impacted by the decisions of their leadership.<\/p>\n<p>So, no, I would not see us taking action in those \u2014 in that \u2014 along those lines.\u00a0 We have increased, as you know, Jeremy, the shipments to states by 57 percent since the President took office.\u00a0 There are a number of ways that vaccines are being distributed in Florida, but, of course, in states across the country.\u00a0 But \u2014 you know, we remain committed to doing that.\u00a0 And I don\u2019t have anything more on that specific report, which I had not had the chance to review before the briefing.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Nikki Schwab of Daily Mail.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi, Jen.\u00a0 Can you hear me?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I can.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Great.\u00a0 Just wondering if the President has any reaction to these reports that say Senator Ted Cruz flew to Cancun amid this giant winter storm in his home state of Texas?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, I don\u2019t have any updates on the exact location of Senator Ted Cruz, nor does anyone at the White House.\u00a0 But our focus is on working directly with leadership in Texas and the surrounding states on addressing the winter storm and the crisis at hand \u2014 the many people across the state who are without power, without the resources they need.\u00a0 And we expect that would be the focus of anyone in the state or surrounding states who was elected to represent them.\u00a0 But I don\u2019t have any update on his whereabouts.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Joey Garrison of USA Today.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Yeah, Jen.\u00a0 Thanks for taking this call.\u00a0 Can you hear me?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 I can.\u00a0 Hi, Joey.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, how are you?\u00a0 Republicans increasingly are jumping on the reopening schools issue for the \u201922 midterm elections and trying to blame Democrats and Joe Biden for the reason, you know, parents\u2019 children aren\u2019t in school.\u00a0 What\u2019s your reaction to that?\u00a0 It\u2019s pretty openly a line of attack right now.\u00a0 And do you think that\u2019s a fair line of attack right now, you know, as you\u2019re looking ahead towards the midterms?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, let me first say, on the political front, that no polling I have seen has shown that is effective.\u00a0 And there was actually a poll out yesterday that showed that President Biden and teachers were the most trusted entities in terms of determining when school should reopen.\u00a0 We obviously rely on science and rely on our health experts, and we think that reflects where most of the country want us to be.\u00a0 They want schools to reopen.\u00a0 We\u2019re also committed to doing that.<\/p>\n<p>So there are CDC guidelines that came out on Friday that provided a roadmap for schools to open safely.\u00a0 The President wants schools to open five days a week.\u00a0 He wants kids to be in school.\u00a0 Teachers want kids to be in school.\u00a0 And he also believes that teachers should be prioritized, as do \u2014 as does the Vice President.<\/p>\n<p>So \u2014 but he also believes that there are a range of mitigation steps \u2014 or, I should say, he follows the guidelines, as we all do and should, that were put out by our health and medical experts that show there are a range of mitigation steps. Vaccinations are one of the additional steps that the CDC is recommending, but there are additional steps, including masking, smaller class sizes.\u00a0 And he is eager to have his Secretary of Education confirmed so that he can work with school districts across the country, lead that effort to reopen schools.\u00a0 And we remain committed to that.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Any concern about this issue though making Democrats vulnerable in 2022 if it\u2019s not turned around and schools don\u2019t start reopening here in the coming months?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, I would say that the President, the Vice President, and this White House don\u2019t see reopening schools through a political prism.\u00a0 We see it as what\u2019s in the interests of teachers, of students, of families, of parents, and we want to do it safely.\u00a0 And the President is committed to reopening schools five days a week as quickly as possible.\u00a0 He is committed to also following science and working with school districts, to having his Secretary of Education work with school districts to get that done.<\/p>\n<p>And he has also \u2014 what is within his power is that we are working with Congress to get additional funding, which is essential to many school districts across the country, so that they can follow and take these mitigation steps recommended by the CDC, including ensuring masking, smaller class sizes, that there are more bus drivers hired, that there are more teachers hired if needed.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s within the President\u2019s power \u2014 something he is focused on every day and night so that we can open schools, open them five days a week, within 100 days.\u00a0\u00a0 And that\u2019s where his focus is.\u00a0 We don\u2019t see that through a political prism.\u00a0 Kids are not Democrats or Republicans.\u00a0 And their parents \u2014 I think this is an issue that all Americans care deeply about.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks, Jen.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR: \u00a0Our next question will come from the line of Kayla Tausche of CNBC.\u00a0 Please go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Kayla.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hi, Jen.\u00a0 Thank you for doing this.\u00a0 We appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I have two questions: one domestic, one foreign.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The first is on the economy.\u00a0 This week, we saw retail sales and inflation data that were unexpectedly strong.\u00a0 I\u2019m wondering how the White House is factoring that data into the size of the rescue package and whether $1.9 trillion would, as some critics say, \u201coverheat the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>And then my foreign question, which I\u2019ll just go ahead and ask, is that Iran has said it will stop allowing snap inspections by the IAEA beginning on Monday if parties to the nuclear deal don\u2019t take their own steps toward full compliance. Does the President see this as motivation to engage with Iran sooner rather than later?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, let me take the second question first, if that makes sense.<\/p>\n<p>Iran is a long way from compliance.\u00a0 Our focus is on working with our partners and allies to engage and coordinate on a range of issues, including the future of the Iran nuclear deal.\u00a0 Secretary Blinken has a meeting with his E3 part- \u2014 counterpart later this afternoon, and I would suspect the State Department would have a readout from that meeting.<\/p>\n<p>But certainly our \u2014 our focus is, of course, on preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear deal, but they are a long way from compliance and our \u2014 our focus is also on working with our partners and allies.\u00a0 On \u2014 our priority, I should say, Kayla.<\/p>\n<p>On the economic question, I know a number of our economic experts, including Secretary \u2014 our Secretary of Treasury has answered the question.\u00a0 But I will say that most economists will tell you and most economic data will show that we are crawling out of a massive hole, and it\u2019s \u2014 we\u2019re crawling out too slowly, and that what is essential is to ensure that we have \u2014 we put in, you know, of course, stimulus into our economy to help expedite that.<\/p>\n<p>And that is part of what this package will do, by providing direct relief to the American people; by reopening schools, which will have a huge impact on working mothers and parents across the country; by getting vaccinations in the arms of the American people.\u00a0 Most economic data and studies have shown that this package will have a significant impact on that, and that we still have a long way to go in our recovery, so it is essential at this point in time.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.\u00a0 Appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Peter Alexander of NBC News.\u00a0 Please go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, Jen.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Hi, Peter.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thanks for hosting us.\u00a0 Sorry we can\u2019t do it in person.\u00a0 You sort of hit on this a bit, but I just want to, sort of, drill down a little bit on the immigration announcement today and what specifically is the strategy for this White House to get this immigration bill passed right now.\u00a0 Will you bring Republicans here to engage them in the process?\u00a0 Would you do it through reconciliation?\u00a0 How are you going to get something this big done?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 All great questions, Peter.\u00a0 I think we\u2019re not quite there, because today is the day that the bill is being proposed.\u00a0 Obviously, Senator Menendez, Congresswoman S\u00e1nchez will be key leaders on the Hill to determine, in coordination with us, the next steps forward.<\/p>\n<p>But right now, we are eager to communicate about what is in the package, why the key components \u2014 why all of the components are pivotal pieces of the package.\u00a0 And, in terms of the mechanism or the timeline or the mechanics, you know, we\u2019re \u2014 we\u2019re happy to have that conversation in the weeks ahead.\u00a0 But today, we\u2019re just \u2014 the bill is just being officially introduced.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I\u2019m just going to take two more questions.\u00a0 And we\u2019ll, of course, do this again tomorrow, but I just have a bit of a hard out coming up.\u00a0 But go ahead, whoever is next.<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question will come from the line of Matt Viser of The Washington Post.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hey, Jen.\u00a0 Thanks for doing this in an unusual circumstance.\u00a0 We know, from earlier, that Biden spoke with governors on Tuesday about the weather conditions.\u00a0 Most of his visibility though has been on another disaster \u2014 of COVID.<\/p>\n<p>Can you highlight a little bit just how hands on Biden himself has been with the natural disasters; if he\u2019s briefed hourly, daily; if he has any plans to visit any of these states or plans to say anything more broadly about it at this time?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Sure.\u00a0 I will say that the President is kept abreast of the developments in Texas and the surrounding states and receives updates every day, but more than once a day.\u00a0 It is certainly a focus, and as \u2014 and ensuring that the people of Texas, the people of the surrounding states have the resources they need is something that he raises in meetings frequently and has over the past couple of days.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of whether he will visit: You know, I think as you well know, Matt, one of the factors to consider here is what the impact is, the footprint \u2014 right? \u2014 of a presidential trip.\u00a0 It can take up resources.\u00a0 It can take up, you know, the time and energy of police and security.\u00a0 And so those are factors that we consider as we determine when and where he will visit.<\/p>\n<p>But he is \u2014 does receive \u2014 he is in the White House today, of course \u2014 that\u2019s where he lives.\u00a0 But he is, I should say, you know, working today, receiving updates today.\u00a0 I suspect he would receive several updates from his national security team.\u00a0 And he is focused on and has directed his team to provide him \u2014 ensure he\u2019s updated, but also make rapid decisions and be responsive to the specific needs of the states as they come up during this difficult time.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Okay, I\u2019ll take one more question, then we\u2019ll do this again tomorrow.\u00a0 Well, a different version of this, but \u2014<\/p>\n<p>OPERATOR:\u00a0 Our next question in queue will come from the line of Mr. James Rosen of Sinclair Broadcast Group.\u00a0 Please, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you, Jen.\u00a0 Can you hear me all right?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 I can. \u00a0Hi, James.<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Jen, thanks for expanding the call today, and it\u2019s nice to be back with you if only by telephone.<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>Q\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I just wanted to follow up on the comments of Liz.\u00a0 To have the Deputy National Security Advisor brief us on the Texas grid collapse \u2014 you know, it\u2019s not just the immediate logistical issues that she\u2019s grappling with.\u00a0 I want to ask about the nexus between energy policy and national security.<\/p>\n<p>As you know, Republicans in Congress and in the energy sector have been pointing out that, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the U.S. achieved one of the core benchmarks of energy independence in 2019.\u00a0 That was the first year since 1957 that the U.S. produced more energy than the country consumed.\u00a0 And that\u2019s one basic definition of energy independence.\u00a0 And they claim or they argue that the policies being pursued by the Biden administration will sacrifice those gains.<\/p>\n<p>How do you persuade the American people that U.S. national security can be safeguarded by this transition to a green economy, which, of course, has never been fully developed anywhere relative to our scale?<\/p>\n<p>MS. PSAKI:\u00a0 Well, James, you know, in this White House, we like to follow the facts and also rely on experts, as you know.\u00a0 And I would say that, you know, officials at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which operates the state\u2019s power grid, has said that the failures in wind and solar were the least significant factor in the blackouts.<\/p>\n<p>And there have been a range of reports that have suggested otherwise, inaccurately.\u00a0 But that\u2019s not accurate according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas.<\/p>\n<p>As Dr. Sherwood-Randall also conveyed, clearly there is a need to assess how we protect and support our national infrastructure to ensure it\u2019s resilient and sustainable during storms, during any threats to it.<\/p>\n<p>And there is, of course, plenty of time to do that, and it is a priority for this administration.\u00a0 But right now, our focus, her focus, the President\u2019s focus is on ensuring that the millions of people, or the many, many people across these states that are impacted are receiving the relief and assistance they need.<\/p>\n<p>So we\u2019ll have those policy discussion, but we are focused on the emergency at hand at this point in time.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you, everybody, so much for joining the briefing.\u00a0 I really appreciate your flexibility in getting through the technical details.\u00a0 And I\u2019ll look forward to talking with all of you tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>END\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1:33 P.M. EST<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC..,Good afternoon, everyone.\u00a0 Thank you for joining us on this snow day.\u00a0 And we wanted to ensure we held a briefing today to, of course, keep our streak going and ensure we were being as transparent and open as possible to all of you and the questions you have on a daily basis. And [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":13330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[20,5,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114898","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-government","category-news","last_archivepost"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/whitehouselogo200.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114898","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=114898"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114898\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/13330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=114898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=114898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=114898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}