{"id":123496,"date":"2021-06-24T22:29:36","date_gmt":"2021-06-25T05:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/69.46.6.243\/?p=123496"},"modified":"2021-06-24T22:29:36","modified_gmt":"2021-06-25T05:29:36","slug":"president-biden-on-the-bipartisan-infrastructure-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=123496","title":{"rendered":"President Biden on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;.Please, please be seated.  I got my notes here.  Well, good afternoon.  If you hear a little noise in the background, it\u2019s because I\u2019m supposed to be getting on a helicopter to head to North Carolina, which I\u2019m going to be doing short- \u2014 right after this.  And the Vice President and I, though, want to lay out what we\u2019ve just settled, at least for the moment, with our friends \u2014 the bipartisan group of senators. <\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/iza2F4Dhfog\" title=\"YouTube video player\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>I said many times before: There\u2019s nothing our nation can\u2019t do when we decide to do it together, do it as one nation.  Today is the latest example of that truth, in my view.  I\u2019m pleased to report that a bipartisan group of senators \u2014 five Democrats, five Republicans \u2014 part of a larger group \u2014 have come together and forged an agreement that will create millions of American jobs and modernize our American infrastructure to compete with the rest of the world and own the 21st century. <\/p>\n<p>I want to thank them for working together and for raising their ideas and concerns with me and with the Vice President, as well as with our Jobs Cabinet: Secretaries Buttigieg is here \u2014 good to see you, Mr. Secretary.  Secretary Fudge.  Secretary Granholm.  Secretary \u2014 there you are \u2014 okay, you guys to make sure I \u2014 I \u2014 I thought everybody was on this side.  I was \u2013(laughs).  Secretary Raimondo and Secretary Walsh.<\/p>\n<p>I also want to thank Senator Shelley Capito for her earlier work on an infrastructure agreement.  We didn\u2019t reach an agreement, but she tried her best to get something done.  I\u2019m sure it helped produce the final agreement we have. <\/p>\n<p>The fact is, investment in jobs and infrastructure have often had bipartisan support in the past.  Matter of fact, when I first got to the United States Senate, it was probably the least difficult thing to do \u2014 is pass infrastructure plans.  But even so, it\u2019s been a very long time since the last time our country was able to strike a major bipartisan deal on American infrastructure \u2014 which is so badly needed, I might add. <\/p>\n<p>We devoted far too much energy to competing with one another and not nearly enough energy competing with the rest of the world to win the 21st century. <\/p>\n<p>The investments we\u2019ll be making as a result of this deal are long overdue.  They\u2019ll put Americans to work in good-paying jobs repairing our roads and our bridges.  They\u2019ll deliver high-speed Internet to every American home, bringing down the price that people pay now for Internet service.  And they\u2019ll close the American digital divide \u2014 as been driven home by every mother and father with a child at home during the COVID crisis, that is, thank God, abating.  And kids not being able to be in school.<\/p>\n<p>This is going to put plumbers and pipefitters to work.  It\u2019s going to replace 100 percent of the nation\u2019s lead water pipes so that every child and every American could turn on the faucet at home or at school and drink clean water, including in low-income communities and communities of color that have been disproportionately affected by lead pipes and the consequences of that. <\/p>\n<p>This still makes key investments to put people to work all across the country building transmission lines, upgrading the power grid to be more ener- \u2014 more energy efficient and resilient in extreme weather \u2014 to be able to sustain extreme weather and the \u2014 and the climate crisis.  It also builds our natural infrastructure \u2014 our coastlines and our \u2014 and our levees \u2014 to be more resilient as well. <\/p>\n<p>American workers will be installing electric vehicle charging stations and undertaking critical environmental cleanups.  This bipartisan agreement represents the largest investment in public transit in American history. <\/p>\n<p>And I might add that \u2014 the largest investment in rail, since the creation of Amtrak.  You all know I have nothing but affection for Amtrak, having traveled over a million miles on it, commuting every day.  But it\u2019s a big deal.<\/p>\n<p>This agreement is going to create a new financing authority that\u2019s going to leverage private capital and infrastructure and clean energy projects that will provide folks with good-paying jobs that can\u2019t be outsourced \u2014 the kinds of jobs that provide middle-class \u2014 a middle-class life with a little bit of breathing room \u2014 a little bit of breathing room for American families. <\/p>\n<p>My dad used to say, \u201cBeing in the middle class is just being able to take that extra breath.\u201d  I mean it sincerely.  Think about it.  Think about all the people who can\u2019t take that breath because they don\u2019t \u2014 they have no margin for error.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re \u2014 and we\u2019re \u2014 and we\u2019re going to do it all without raising a cent from earners below $400,000.  There\u2019s no gas tax increase, no fee on electric vehicles.  And the fact is, we\u2019re going to help ensure that \u2014 we\u2019re going to make sure that everybody in America is in a position to be able to do what need be done. <\/p>\n<p>And so what I\u2019ve \u2014 because \u2014 and let me be clear: We\u2019re in a race with China and the rest of the world for the 21st century.  They\u2019re not waiting.  They\u2019re investing tens of billions of dollars across the board.  Tens of billions. <\/p>\n<p>I just came back from Europe with \u2014 meeting with the G7, as well as with NATO, as well as the EU, and as well as with Mr. Putin \u2014 all separately.  There\u2019s massive investment going on in the \u2014 among the autocrats. <\/p>\n<p>One of the underlying questions is: Can democracies compete with autocratic enterprises in the 21st century?  And this is a big move toward that, being able to compete.  We have to move, and we have to move fast. <\/p>\n<p>And this agreement singles \u2014 signals to the world that we can function, deliver, and do significant things.  These investment rep- \u2014 these investments represent the kind of national effort that, throughout our history, has literally \u2014 not figuratively \u2014 literally transformed America and propelled us into the future.  The transcontinental railroad, the Interstate Highway System \u2014 investments that we made together that only our government was in a position to make.<\/p>\n<p>Now we\u2019re poised to add a new chapter in that American tradition.  Let me be clear: Neither side got everything they wanted in this deal, and that\u2019s what it means to compromise.  And it reflects something important: It reflects consensus.  The heart of democracy requires consensus.  And it\u2019s time a true \u2014 this time a true bipartisan effort, breaking the ice that too often has kept us frozen in place and prevented us from solving the real problems facing the American people.<\/p>\n<p>This deal \u2014 this deal means millions of good-paying jobs, and fewer burdens felt at the kitchen table and across the country, and safer and healthier communities.  But it also signals to ourselves and to the world that American democracy can deliver.  And because of that, it represents an important step forward for our country.<\/p>\n<p>I want to be clear about something else: Today is a huge day for one half of my economic agenda, the American Jobs Plan.  It delivers on clean transportation, clear water and clean water, universal broadband, clean power infrastructure, and environmental resilience.<\/p>\n<p>In these areas, it invests two thirds of the resources that I proposed in my American Jobs Plan.  Two thirds of what I called for in those areas. <\/p>\n<p>But I\u2019m getting to work with Congress right \u2014 right away on the other half of my economic agenda as well \u2014 the American Family Plan \u2014 to finish the job on childcare, education, the caring economy, clean energy tax cuts \u2014 clean energy, and tax cuts for American families, and much more.<\/p>\n<p>For me, investment in our physical and human infrastructure are inextricably intertwined.  Both make us better off and stronger. <\/p>\n<p>The case for these investments is clear.  Economists \u2014 left, right, and center \u2014 independent Wall Street forecasters, they all say that these kinds of public investments mean more jobs, more workers participating in the labor force, higher productivity, and higher growth for our economy over the long run. <\/p>\n<p>Both need to get done, and I\u2019m going to work closely with Speaker Pelosi and Leader Schumer to make sure that both move through the legislative process promptly and in tandem.  Let me emphasize that: and in tandem. <\/p>\n<p>We need physical infrastructure, but we also need the human infrastructure as well.  They\u2019re a part of my overall plan.  What we agreed on today is what we could agree on: the physical infrastructure.  There was no agreement on the rest.  We\u2019re going to have to do that through the budget process.<\/p>\n<p>And we need a fairer tax system to pay for it all. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not going to rest until it all \u2014 both get to my desk.<\/p>\n<p>And lastly, I know there are some of my party who discouraged me from seeking an agreement with our Republican colleagues, who said that we should, \u201cGo bigger and go alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>To them, I say this: I have already shown, in my young presidency, that I am prepared to do whatever needs to get done to move the country forward.  That\u2019s what I did with the American Rescue Plan, which was $1.9 trillion.<\/p>\n<p>But let me say this: When we can\u2019t \u2014 when we can find common ground, though, working across party lines, that is what I will seek to do.<\/p>\n<p>The reason why is because broader support for a proposal has \u2014 the broader support a proposal has in Congress, the stronger its prospects for passage.  Working together when we can allows us to make bipartisan process [progress] whenever possible without foreclosing the right and the necessity of moving forward on a \u2014 on a major \u2014 on a majority basis when we are at deep odds with one another.  So-called \u201creconciliation progress \u2014 process.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>And for the \u2014 for the deal being announced today, there is plenty of work ahead to bring this home.  It\u2019s going to require hard work and collaboration.  The committee chairs and the ranking members are going to play a major part.  There are going to be disagreements to resolve and more compromise to be forged along the way. <\/p>\n<p>But this group of senators and all of the American people can be proud today because we have reaffirmed, once again, that we are the United States of America.  There\u2019s not a single thing beyond our capacity that we aren\u2019t able to do when we do it together.<\/p>\n<p>I know a lot of you in the press, particularly, doubt that unity is possible, that anything bipartisan is possible.  It\u2019s hard, but it\u2019s necessary.  And it can get done. <\/p>\n<p>So, I want to thank you all.  And God bless you.  And now I\u2019ll take a few questions, before the helicopter leaves without me, from the press.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, what assurances do you have at this point that you have sufficient Democratic support, both in the Senate and the House, to move both on this bipartisan deal and on the reconciliation package?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  You always ask me those things.  Nobody knows for certain.  It\u2019s your job, but you know it\u2019s not a reasonable question.  And the reason I say that \u2014 I (inaudible) being critical \u2014 the idea of my telling you now that I know what every senator \u2014 how they\u2019re going to vote is just not \u2014 I don\u2019t know that. <\/p>\n<p>I do know that among the roughly 20 bipartisan groups of senators and congr- \u2014 senators that I met with \u2014 only 10 were here today, but that group \u2014 that we had an agreement.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you know \u2014 and you know, they talk about, \u201cWell, why would Biden compromise?\u201d  Well, when\u2019s the last time \u2014<\/p>\n<p>If you had asked me whether or not I\u2019d be able to get passenger rail service or 66 billion dollars\u2019 worth \u2014 largest investment ever since Amtrak came about.  I asked for $90 [billion] and got $66 billion. <\/p>\n<p>Talk about public transit: $49 billion \u2014 $49 billion for public transit.  When I raised that before, some of you looked at me like, \u201cWhere have you been, Biden?  You\u2019ve been spending too much in China or something.\u201d  I hadn\u2019t been to China. <\/p>\n<p>You know, electric buses \u2014 $7.5 billion.  I asked for $15 [billion].  I couldn\u2019t get all of it, but I \u2014 we compromised.  Electric infrastructure \u2014 that is charging stations along the roads.  I got \u2014 I asked for fifteen; I got seven and a half. <\/p>\n<p>These are significant down payments on things that we finally got after negotia- \u2014 skillful negotiation on the part of my Cabinet and my team, led by Mr. Ricchetti. <\/p>\n<p>And so, when you ask me what guarantee do I have that I have all the votes I need: I don\u2019t have any guarantee, but what I do have is a pretty good read, over the years, of how the Congress and the Senate works.  And the idea that we\u2019re not going \u2014 because someone is not going to be able to get every single thing they want, they\u2019re going to vote against some of the things that I just named with nothing in here that\u2019s, quote, \u201cbad\u201d for the environment, \u201cbad\u201d for the economy, \u201cbad\u201d for the transportation is unlikely.  But I can\u2019t guarantee it.  You know that. <\/p>\n<p>Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, talk a little more about your interactions with Republicans specifically.  You said earlier, \u201cThey\u2019ve given me their word.  Where I come from, that\u2019s good enough for me.\u201d  To skeptics in your own party, what is it about the conversations you\u2019ve had recently with Republicans that gives you so much hope? <\/p>\n<p>And, secondly, you had said earlier you might have more to say about the situation down in South Beach, in Miami.  Just curious \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I\u2019m going to stick to \u2014 I will, at the end, answer your South Beach question.  But let me \u2014 so we have some coherence here. <\/p>\n<p>Number one, I\u2019ve worked with a lot of these people who are in the room.  I know them.  Everybody knows and you guys know: When certain senators tell you something, they mean it.  Snd others you take \u2014 you discount. <\/p>\n<p>Where I come from and the \u2014 in my years in the Senate, the single greatest currency you have is your word \u2014 keeping your word.  Mitt Romney has never broken his word to me.  You know, the senator from Alaska and the senator of New Hampshire, they\u2019ve never broken their wor- \u2014 I \u2014 from Maine \u2014 they\u2019ve never broken their word.  They\u2019re friends. <\/p>\n<p>And so, the people I was with today are people that I trust.  I don\u2019t agree with them on a lot of things, but I trust them when they say, \u201cThis is a deal.  We\u2019ll stick to the deal.\u201d Just like I doubt that you\u2019ll find any one of them who say they don\u2019t trust me when I said, \u201cOkay, this is the deal \u2014 on these issues, this is a deal we\u2019ll stick with.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>But, for example, there\u2019s \u2014 and I made it clear today \u2014 there\u2019s other things in the environment I want to get done.  I think we should have the $300 billion tax credit for dealing with the environment.  It (inaudible) giant tax cuts for corporations, but it\u2019ll also be a giant move toward weatherizing every building in America and all the things that we need to do. <\/p>\n<p>So, there are things \u2014 and so, when I said, \u201cWe agree,\u201d I\u2019m not going to go back and renegotiate the Amtrak piece, but I am going to fight for trying to get $300 billion more for tax credits for the environment.  That\u2019s about as best that I can answer the question.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, ma\u2019am.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, can you answer a ques- \u2014 thank you so much.  My question is on the timeline.  There are families who are looking at the Families Plan and wondering when the help is coming.  Can you talk \u2014 I know you said they\u2019re going to be \u201cpromptly and in tandem,\u201d but can you say anything more about that?<\/p>\n<p>And what does this signal for future deals?  There\u2019s still things like voting rights and policing reform that are not able to get bipartisan deals.  What does this tell you?  What have you learned in talking to Republicans about what would happen in the future?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Let me take \u2014 you asked three essay questions \u2014 and legitimate questions, but you asked three of them.  The first one related to what, again?<\/p>\n<p>Q    The first one is on the timeline.  When do you think this two-track (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Timeline.  And you said, \u201cwhen people are waiting for relief.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Q    Yes.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I got them \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  \u2014 $1.9 trillion in relief so far.  They\u2019re going to be getting checks in the mail that are consequential, this week, for childcare.  A lot has been happened already.  Number one.<\/p>\n<p>Number two, I\u2019m going to fight like heck to get them the rest of what I think has to be done.  On education, for example, my proposal was, in the Family Plan, early education and free community college.  I\u2019m going to fight like the devil to get that done, but it\u2019s not going to be with Republican help.  I\u2019m going to have to get every Democrat and do it through reconciliation if it gets done.  So that\u2019s number one.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2014 I think, based on my being out on the street and polling data, I think the people who need the help the most trust me to be fighting to get them the help they need.  They know who I am, and they know my record. <\/p>\n<p>With regard to the issue of what \u2014 what about voting rights \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q    (Inaudible.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Voting rights is maybe the most consequential thing, I think, with \u2014 I\u2019m going to be going around the country, spending time making the case to the American people that this just isn\u2019t about iden- \u2014 showing an identification that, \u201cThis is who I am when I vote.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t just about whether or not \u2014 excuse me \u2014 you can provide water for someone standing in line while they\u2019re waiting to vote.  This is about who gets to judge whether your vote counted after it\u2019s been cast.  Think about it.<\/p>\n<p>Up to now, every state and the federal government has assumed that there would be officials who were appointed and\/or elected in states where the election commissioners \u2014 bound by an oath that they would uphold certain requirements to make sure the vote was honest and fair. <\/p>\n<p>What these guys are trying to do now, in ro- \u2014 rough approximation, is say that, \u201cIf we don\u2019t like the vote turned out and we control the state legislature, we\u2019re going to say the vote didn\u2019t count and we\u2019re going to recount.\u201d  That\u2019s never happened before.  It\u2019s wrong.  \u201cWho in God\u2019s name,\u201d as my mother would say, \u201cdied and left them boss?\u201d  Your vote has to count when you cast it. <\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a lot of ancillary pieces of this legislation that I strongly support.  I strongly support the idea that there\u2019s no \u2014 there\u2019s no prior \u2014 if I had my way, there\u2019d be no private contributions to see who gets elected \u2014 how much money you raise.  If I had my way \u2014 and I think it\u2019s really important \u2014 that every Election Day would be a day off because people can\u2019t go to \u2014 people who work certain shifts can\u2019t make it to the election.  I would make sure there\u2019s automatic registration when you turn 18. <\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what I think everybody thinks this fight is about, and it\u2019s a worthy fight, but it\u2019s much more profound than that.  It\u2019s about saying that the legislature in Georgia could decide, if it\u2019s a Republican legislature, \u201cYou know, on reflection, we don\u2019t think that election was fair.  We\u2019re going to vote to say it didn\u2019t count.\u201d  It\u2019s just simply wrong.  It\u2019s wrong.  And in my view, it borders on being immoral.<\/p>\n<p>This is the sacred right to vote.  As John Lewis said, \u201cIt is the \u2014 the \u2014 the most important right you have.\u201d  And so, I\u2019m going to be making the case across the country and, as best I can, to see (inaudible).<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, do you support critical \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Let me go to this side.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, you said you want both of these measures to come to you \u201cin tandem.\u201d  Did you receive any assurances that that would happen?  And how do you anticipate \u2014 what will you do if \u2014<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I control that.<\/p>\n<p>Q    \u2014 they don\u2019t get to you in time?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  If they don\u2019t come, I\u2019m not signing.  Real simple. <\/p>\n<p>So, but I expect \u2014 I expect that in the \u2014 the coming months this summer, before the count \u2014 the fiscal year is over, that we will have voted on this bill, as well \u2014 the infrastructure bill \u2014 as well as voted on the budget record [sic] \u2014 resolution. <\/p>\n<p>And that\u2019s when they\u2019ll \u2014 but if only one comes to me, I\u2019m not \u2014 and if this is the only thing that comes to me, I\u2019m not signing it.  It\u2019s in tandem. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, do you support, then, Speaker Pelosi\u2019s stated plan to hold the bipartisan deal in the House until the Senate also passes reconciliation?  Do you support that sequencing on her part?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yes. <\/p>\n<p>Q    But, Mr. President, your own party is not on the same page about the reconciliation package.  So, by moving forward with this two-track system, are you putting the bipartisan bill in jeopardy?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Sure, the bipartisan bill was \u2014 look, the bipartisan bill, from the very beginning, was understood there was going to have to be the second part of it.  I\u2019m not just signing the bipartisan bill and forgetting about the rest I \u2014 that I proposed.  I proposed a significant piece of legislation in three parts.  And all \u2014 all three parts are equally important. <\/p>\n<p>And, by the way, my party \u2014 you keep \u2014 everybody tell \u2014 tells me my party is \u2014 my party is divided.  Well, my party is divided.  My party is divided, but my party is also rational.  If they can\u2019t get every single thing they want, but all that they have in the bill is that \u2014 before them is good, are they going to vote \u201cno\u201d?  I don\u2019t think so. <\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Yes.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, are you \u2014 48 hours ago, it seemed like this deal was kind of in a rough place or didn\u2019t necessarily have a path forward.  What clinched it?  What changed the dynamic that you saw?  And also, would you be willing to include a debt ceiling increase in either of the two vehicles you\u2019re talking about? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  They\u2019re probably going (inaudible) be debt ceiling.  Whether it\u2019s included in either of these bills is not relevant.  It depends on what the \u2014 the leadership in the House and Senate thinks how they should proceed, number one. <\/p>\n<p>Number two, you notice, I didn\u2019t have that bleak view you all had.  You said, 48 hours ago, it didn\u2019t look good.  It looked good to me 48 hours ago.  It looked good to our team 48 hours ago.  Seventy-two hours ago, it looked good, too.  It wasn\u2019t there yet.<\/p>\n<p>But you guys know me too well.  And it\u2019s \u2014 I\u2019m going to drive you crazy the next four years because I\u2019m going to tell you the truth as I see it.  I know the Senate and the House better than most of you know it.  I\u2019ve been \u2014 my whole life, that\u2019s what I\u2019ve done. <\/p>\n<p>It doesn\u2019t mean I\u2019m going to turn out to be right all the time, but I\u2019m not going to negotiate with the press while I\u2019m negotiating with the \u2014 privately with my colleagues.  And these are really tough decisions senators have got.  I don\u2019t, in any way, dismiss what Senator Murphy says about the environment.  I don\u2019t dismiss it at all.  Especially (inaudible).  I wrote the bill on the environment.  Why would I not be for it?<\/p>\n<p>The question is: How much can we get done?  And the bottom line is: When all is said and done, does what you agree to preclude, forever, you getting the things you really want?  Well, I\u2019m not for that.  I\u2019m not going to vote for one of those deals. <\/p>\n<p>Secondly, do you get all of what you wanted?  Or do you come back and fight another day? <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve been President about 150 days.  I think we\u2019ve done fairly well so far.  Not because of me, but because of the way the system works.<\/p>\n<p>So, it\u2019s not \u2014 I mean, I \u2014 I know that doesn\u2019t answer any of your questions about, \u201cCan you tell me when?\u201d and \u201cHow are you going to do it?\u201d  I just feel that the best way to get a senator or a congressperson who supports the essence of what\u2019s already there, but says, \u201cI don\u2019t have enough of what\u2019s there, of other things\u201d \u2014 the best way to get that message across is go to the constituents, and say, \u201cHere\u2019s \u2014 here\u2019s what\u2019s on the table.  Do you think your senator, your congressman should vote for that?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>So, you campaign.  The campaign doesn\u2019t stop; the partisan piece stops, in terms of, \u201cI\u2019m against Charlie Smith or Harry Wilson.\u201d  But that doesn\u2019t stop \u2014 I mean, that stops.  But what doesn\u2019t stop is to the saying, \u201cYou\u2019re\u2026\u201d \u2014 it\u2019s like on a \u2014 last example I\u2019ll give.  I promise I won\u2019t do this to you again. But remember: In 2018, everybody said, \u201cWell, you know, we\u2019re going to lose.  The Democrats are going to lose.  You know, the House and Senate, they\u2019re not going to make \u2014 the House is not going to make gains.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>And I went into over 60 congressional districts.  I didn\u2019t go after the individual congresspersons who were against making sure that we kept the Affordable Care Act.  But I went to their constituents and said, \u201cThe Affordable Care Act is really important.\u201d  We had large crowds show up.  And I\u2019d say, \u201cHere\u2019s why I think you should do it.  That\u2019s why, if I were you, I\u2019d take a look at what Charlie Smith says and Harry Wilson says.  He\u2019s for it.  She\u2019s not.\u201d  Or \u201cShe\u2019s for it; he\u2019s not.\u201d  And guess what?  We won, what, 40 some seats?<\/p>\n<p>So, it\u2019s not just convincing this particular congressperson.  It\u2019s making a rational case, if you can, in their communities why this is important to get done. <\/p>\n<p>And I think the fact that I didn\u2019t get everything now at this moment \u2014 for example, a lot of our housing pieces didn\u2019t get passed.  We\u2019re coming back at it though.  We\u2019re coming back at it.  We\u2019re going to make the case.  And if I make the case to the public at large \u2014 the one thing I can say for all of you, you do accurately report what I say.  The problem is I disappoint you because I can\u2019t answer all your questions and negotiate with you before I negotiate with my colleagues. <\/p>\n<p>But I really think we \u2014 the public understands and they\u2019re seeing the proof is in what\u2019s happening.  It\u2019s now projected our economy is going to grow above 7 percent this year.  Projections from Wall Street to the Fed: It\u2019s going to continue to grow.  We\u2019re going to increase more \u2014 and guess what? <\/p>\n<p>Remember you were asking me \u2014 and I\u2019m not being critical of you all; I really mean this.  It was legitimate questions you were asking me \u2014 asking me, \u201cWell, you know, guess what?  Employers can\u2019t find workers.\u201d  I said, \u201cYeah.  Pay them more.\u201d  This is an employee\u2019s \u2014 employee\u2019s bargaining chip now what\u2019s happening.  They\u2019re going to have to compete and start playing [sic] hardworking people a decent wage. <\/p>\n<p>And, by the way \u2014 talking inflation \u2014 the overwhelming consensus is it\u2019s going to pop up a little bit and then go back down.  No one is talking about, \u201cThis great, great deal.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>So, again, if it turns out that what I\u2019ve done so far \u2014 what we\u2019ve done so far is a mistake, it\u2019s going to show.  It\u2019s going to show.  The economy is not going to grow, like it wasn\u2019t before.  People aren\u2019t going to have jobs with increased pay, like it was before.  People are going to be out of work, like it was before, with no options.  Unemployment is going to continue to climb, instead of continue to go down.  If that happens, then my policies didn\u2019t make a lot of sense, but I\u2019m counting on it not.  That\u2019s my counting how it\u2019s working. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve got to get a helicopter (inaudible).  Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, will you travel to Florida, sir?<\/p>\n<p>Q    Can we ask you about Florida \u2014 what you\u2019ve learned and what you\u2019ve (inaudible)?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, yes.  I apologize.  Yes, thank you. (Inaudible) President.  I\u2019ve spoken with, coincidentally, the mayor of Miami-Dade, who was in my office yesterday.  And I talked to her today \u2014 not about that, obviously \u2014 and so I had a long discussion with her today. <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ve also spoken with \u2014 we\u2019ve been in contact with the Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who has that district.  We\u2019ve gotten in touch with FEMA.  They\u2019re ready to go.  The governor is going to have to \u2014 we can\u2019t \u2014 they\u2019re \u2014 they\u2019re down inspecting in what is \u2014 what they think is needed.  But I\u2019m waiting for the governor to ask for \u2014 declare an emergency if \u2014 and especially as we learn more about what the rest \u2014 might happen with the rest of the building. <\/p>\n<p>So, we are on top of it.  We are ready to move, from the federal resources, immediately \u2014 immediately, if in fact we\u2019re asked for it.  But we can\u2019t go in and do it \u2014 but the \u2014 FEMA is down there taking a look at what\u2019s needed, and \u2014 including from everything from \u2014 if the rest of those buildings have to be evacuated as well; finding housing for those people; making sure they have the capacity to both have a place to \u2014 to shelter, and food to eat, et cetera. <\/p>\n<p>So that\u2019s underway now, and I\u2019m \u2014 my Chief of Staff has been deeply involved in this from the very beginning.  We got the Cabinet involved in it now, in terms of dealing with FEMA.  We\u2019re working on it. <\/p>\n<p>And I made it clear that I say to the people of Florida: Whatever help you want that the federal government can provide, we\u2019re waiting.  Just ask us; we\u2019ll be there.  We\u2019ll be there. <\/p>\n<p>So, thank you so much.  I appreciate it.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Mr. President, one quick que- \u2014 what are you hoping the Vice President can do at the border tomorrow?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  She\u2019s done a great job so far.  And the reason why it\u2019s important that she go down: She\u2019s now set up the criteria, having spoken with the President of Mexico and Guatemala, visited the region to know what we need to do.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you very much.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you know anything on these reports about moving Afghan nationals to other countries who helped during the war?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  They\u2019re going to come.  We\u2019ve already begun the process.  Those who helped us are not going to be left behind.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Do you know what country they\u2019re going to move to first? <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  I don\u2019t know that.  I\u2019ll be meeting with the \u2014 with Ghani tomorrow, the head \u2014 he\u2019s coming to my office.  That will be a discussion.  But they\u2019re welcome here, just like anyone else who risked their lives to help us.<\/p>\n<p>Q    Thank you, sir.<\/p>\n<p>2:33 P.M. EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;.Please, please be seated. I got my notes here. Well, good afternoon. If you hear a little noise in the background, it\u2019s because I\u2019m supposed to be getting on a helicopter to head to North Carolina, which I\u2019m going to be doing short- \u2014 right after this. And the Vice President and I, though, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":123497,"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-123496","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\/2021\/06\/Fullscreen-capture-6242021-102557-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123496","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=123496"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/123496\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/123497"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=123496"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=123496"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=123496"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}