{"id":153059,"date":"2022-12-21T00:19:00","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T08:19:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=153059"},"modified":"2022-12-21T00:19:00","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T08:19:00","slug":"briefing-by-press-secretary-karine-jean-pierre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=153059","title":{"rendered":"Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;All right. I heard a \u201coh, wow.\u201d I\u2019m not even going to ask why. (Laughter.)  All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Q Good afternoon.  I just have one \u2014 one thing at the top for all of you. First, I want to \u2014 to wish a Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate.  This evening, the President and the First Lady will host a Hanukkah reception at the White House. Following a blessing and the menorah lighting, the President will address the rise of antisemitism in the U.S. and around the world, and reiterate that we must continue to forcefully reject all form of hate, antisemitism, and violence in our country.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qgw7cW8S-AQ\" title=\"12\/19\/22: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The President and First Lady will also mark a new tradition: adding the first-ever White House menorah to the White House collection, marking the first Jewish artifact to be added to the White House archives, which was made by the White House Carpentry Shop.<\/p>\n<p>Last week, the President launched a new effort to develop a national strategy to counter the scourge of antisemitism. Earlier this year, he convened a first-of-its-kind summit to combat hate-fueled violence. The President has secured the largest increase in federal funding ever for the physical security and \u2014 and [of] non-profits, including synagogue and Jewish community centers.<\/p>\n<p>With that, Darlene, you want to kick us off?<\/p>\n<p>Q Yes, ma\u2019am. Is there any comment that you\u2019d like to offer on the fact that the January 6th Committee is \u2014 has held its final public hearing, is wrapping up its work, is preparing to release the report on Wednesday?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I\u2019ll first say, and you\u2019ve heard me say this many times, and the President as well: We\u2019ve been very clear from the beginning that what we saw on January 6th was the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War. And the President has been very clear: Our democracy continues and remains under threat, and we all have a \u2014 have a part to protect it.<\/p>\n<p>The committee has been doing important bipartisan work to get to the truth of what happened on that very day so we can \u2014 we can make \u2014 so we can make sure that that doesn\u2019t happen again. So I\u2019ll leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>Q What about the committee\u2019s referrals of four members of Congress to the House Ethics Committee for ignoring subpoenas to participate in the investigation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, you know what, Darlene, that\u2019s a very good question. And what I would say to you is that you would have to ask those \u2014 those very Republicans their own \u2014 to speak for their own actions here and have them explain themselves.<\/p>\n<p>Look, I\u2019m not going to get into the weeds of the investigation from here and the process. But, again, you should have them explain themselves on this very issue.<\/p>\n<p>Q And one last question. Republican-led states have asked the Supreme Court to intervene and not allow Title 42 to expire on Wednesday, as a different court has said. Is there any reaction to that? And is the administration in some way hoping that the Court will intervene and extend Title 42 to help you all out of this situation that is brewing at the border?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I\u2019m not going to get into any legal determinations or speculations or, you know, jump \u2014 get ahead of the process here. DOJ is clearly leading this investigation. What I can tell you is what the Homeland \u2014 Homeland Security has been doing.<\/p>\n<p>As you all know, Secretary Mayorkas was at \u2014 was at the border just last week. He talked about how they are surging resources to the border, and we have additional robust planning underway.<\/p>\n<p>But we need Congress to give us the funds we\u2019ve requested to do this in a safe, orderly, and humane way. And here\u2019s the thing: If Republican in Congress are serious about protecting the border, if they are serious about securing the border, if they are serious about the challenges that we\u2019re currently seeing, that they should be able to \u2014 be able to get involved here and make sure that the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security have the resources they need \u2014 they are going to need to do their jobs.<\/p>\n<p>I know you guys are seeing some charts behind me. But, again, just listing out this is what is needed. This is what we\u2019re asking \u2014 that $3.5 billion of a funding request that we\u2019re asking of Congress.<\/p>\n<p>And also, this is what we have been doing to surge resources at the border to deal with \u2014 to address the \u2014 the \u2014 when the \u2014 when Title 42 is \u2014 has to be lifted on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q To follow on that, the mayor of El Paso said over the weekend that the influx of migrants on Wednesday will be incredible. He said it will be huge and that they\u2019re not prepared to deal with it with the current resources that they have.<\/p>\n<p>So, you know, you have the chart up here, but, you know, can you walk us through what the plan is to help that city?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah. Absolutely. So let me just give you what the DHS is doing, and this includes making sure that we give assistance to those various cities, like El Paso.<\/p>\n<p>For example, DHS has deployed additional agents and processing capabilities to El Paso, and 23,000 agents are working to secure the southern border.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not forget: Those 23,000 agents is a \u2014 that is a historic number. And that\u2019s because of the work that this President has done. And so that\u2019s the most ever that we\u2019ve ever seen doing this work. And it\u2019s in addition to nearly 1,000 border patrol processing coordinators.<\/p>\n<p>DHS has also put in place technologies like linear ground detection systems and autom- \u2014 automated surveillance towers, and is increasing security at ports of entry. They\u2019re also adding 10 soft-sided CBP holding facilities.<\/p>\n<p>But, again, we need Congress to provide us the additional resources we\u2019ve requested to do this in a safe, orderly, and humane way. If they are serious \u2014 Republicans in Congress are serious about securing the border, then they should assist in making sure the men and women at the DHS have what they need to get this done.<\/p>\n<p>Q You mentioned surging resources. I had asked you in September specifically about El Paso. And you had said at the time that DHS, the administration was surging resources to the region, working quickly to \u2014 working to quickly decompress the area.<\/p>\n<p>Has that surge of resources been maintained for the last several months? And is this \u2014 is that sustainable? You know, now, if you\u2019re talking about another surge of resources, you know, is that on top of what had already been done in September? And how long can you keep doing a surge like that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. I mean, that\u2019s one of the reasons we\u2019re asking for additional funding \u2014 that $3.5 billion. And, look, that\u2019ll scale up air and ground trans- \u2014 transportation capabilities to move migrants from processing to less crowded Border Patrol sectors and quickly remove them if they don\u2019t have a legal basis to remain; set up additional CBP funding \u2014 holding facilities \u2014 pardon me \u2014 and speed up the processing time so individuals can have their asylum claims heard faster; hire more than 300 additional agents to join our force of 23,000 agents working to secure the border; secure additional technologies and equipment, like automated processi- \u2014 processing systems, law enforcement radios, upgraded surveillance and inspection technologies, and much more; increase support for border cities and towns like El Paso.<\/p>\n<p>Look, this is why we\u2019re asking Congress for this additional funding. Again, if Republicans in Congress are serious, if they want to help the men and women at the DHS, they certainly will assist and get this funding to us to get this \u2014 get this additional support and resources to \u2014 to the men and women at DHS.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine, is the Biden administration looking at sending migrants to Mexico via the expedited removal process if Title 42 ends?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I know there have been \u2014 been a lot of rumors, a lot of speculations. I just \u2014 I\u2019m not going to go off of everything \u2014 I wouldn\u2019t go off of everything that you\u2019re hearing quite yet. But we will have some more to share tomorrow, and there will be a call too on this very \u2014 on these very \u2014 varyia- \u2014 varying issues.<\/p>\n<p>Q Oh, thank you. And there\u2019s estimates of 50,000 migrants in Mexico waiting to cross if Title 42 ends. Is that accurate? And would that overwhelm the Border Patrol people?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I don\u2019t \u2014 don\u2019t have a number for you at this time. What I can say is that we know smugglers will try to spread misinformation to take advantage of these vulnerable migrants. But I want to be very clear here: The fact is that the removal of Title 42 does not mean the border is open. Anyone who suggests otherwise is simply doing the work of these smugglers who, again, are spreading misinformation, and which are \u2014 which is very dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>When Title 42 goes away, as we are \u2014 as we have to do because of a court order, which is on Wednesday, as all of you know \u2014 we will go back to Title 8, which allows a process to make sure that people can make their asylum claims heard. Those who do not have a legal basis to remain will be quickly removed.<\/p>\n<p>And so we will continue to fully enforce our immigration laws in a fair, orderly, and humane manner. But again, we need Congress to deliver on the funding that we\u2019re requesting from them.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thank you.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q The President has been very unequivocal of his criticism for his \u2014 from \u2014 to \u2014 toward his predecessor related to January 6th and in the wake of January 6th. But does he agree with the statement from Congresswoman Cheney today that the former President is unfit to hold any office in this country?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, as it relates to January \u2014 as it relates to the January 6 committee, we\u2019ve been pretty clear on here \u2014 right from here, we\u2019re going to be very \u2014 very careful to not to politicize this process at all. The committee\u2019s work has been substantive and based on facts. Some of the actions that they are taking involve potential criminal investigation, as you \u2014 as you know. So I just want to be very careful and refer you to the Department of Justice on those, because this administration and the DOJ conduct criminal investigation independently, free of any sort of \u2014 any kind of political interference or any interference at all.<\/p>\n<p>But what I can say and what you\u2019ve heard from this President these past two years is he\u2019s going to consistently speak out about this, about what happened on that day, and will continue to speak out about defending our democracy against ongoing threats, and he\u2019s not going to shy away from that. But we\u2019re just not going to comment any further. As you know, this could be there \u2014 there is a potential criminal investigation.<\/p>\n<p>Q Okay. And one more on immigration. A couple months ago, Jake Sullivan was in this room, was talking about the intensive diplomatic effort that\u2019s underway, particularly with three countries, that had started to kind of drive the makeup of the composition of some of the migrants where we have little or no diplomatic relations with those countries, which complicated things on the asylum side.<\/p>\n<p>Have here been any breakthroughs or any agreements on those particular diplomatic efforts, particularly in the lead-up to Wednesday?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, as you know, the President of Ecuador is \u2014 was here. That wasn\u2019t the main topic, clearly. One of the topics was migration. And, you know, I can go more into that, if you will.<\/p>\n<p>But, look, we have some good examples of how diplomacy has worked, with the Venezuela enforcement initiative we announced earlier this year to address the record number of Venezuelan nationals arriving at the border.<\/p>\n<p>And, look, that initiative has resulted in a drastic 90 percent drop in the number of Venezuelan nationals arriving at the border. Average daily encounters are down from 100 \u2014 about 1,100 a day to 200.<\/p>\n<p>So, look, those \u2014 those diplomatic conversations have helped. You know that we\u2019ve held a \u2014 like a leadership forum, right \u2014 in L.A. not too long ago, a couple months ago, where we talked to \u2014 we talked about what\u2019s going on with the Western Hemisphere with those leaders, and came up with some \u2014 with a plan on how to deal with that. And so that\u2019s because of this President\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n<p>And we\u2019ll continue to have those conversations. I don\u2019t have anything to share with you at this time. But we\u2019ll \u2014 you know, we\u2019ll have more in the upcoming day \u2014 days.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Two things, on the same topic. You were asking for $3.2 billion, roughly, from Congress to help pay for all these new or ongoing plans across the border. Let\u2019s say that money comes in the omnibus this week. What\u2019s the plan after that to work with Congress to address this issue?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Like, beyond \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q Yeah.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Beyond?<\/p>\n<p>Look, we have \u2014 I mean, Ed, we have \u2014 from day one have asked Congress to help us with this issue \u2014 right? \u2014 by putting forward their immigration reform bill. That\u2019s on day one that the President had requested that, had asked that. That\u2019s to deal with modernizing the immigration \u2014 this broken immigration system that we currently have, and also to really protect DACA recipients and do so much more.<\/p>\n<p>And so we have \u2014 we have reached out. We\u2019ve done outreach to Congress. We have asked them and \u2014 by \u2014 by acting, again, putting forth this \u2014 this \u2014 this piece of legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Q And it\u2019s resulted in virtually no change in immigration policy with Democrats in charge. So \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I mean \u2014 well that\u2019s \u2014 I \u2014 I \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q \u2014 how is it going to get any easier when Republicans are in charge?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, I \u2014 look, again, we are \u2014 we\u2019ve asked for the $3.5 billion. We\u2019re going to continue to ask Congress to \u2014 to assist in helping with \u2014 especially congressional Republicans, to help us with what\u2019s going at the \u2014 at the border, if they are \u2014 they are indeed serious about doing that.<\/p>\n<p>But, look, even with that \u2014 without their assist, without many Republicans being involved here \u2014 congressional Republicans \u2014 we have secured more resources for the border than any President before tha- \u2013who preceded him, who preceded this current President. He has the most agents ever. As I said, the 23,000 agents.<\/p>\n<p>And let\u2019s not forget: He\u2019s taking historic action to seize record levels of fentanyl from entering our country and taking thousands of smugglers off the streets. And that\u2019s without congressional \u2014 many congressional Republicans assisting here.<\/p>\n<p>So the President has made this a priority. Now, as we\u2019re \u2014 as Title 42 is going to be lifted on Wednesday, because \u2014 due to a court order, we\u2019ve put forth a $3.5 billion funding request from Congress. If they are serious about this \u2014 if congressional Republicans are serious about this, they would take the \u2014 take this up instead of doing political stunts.<\/p>\n<p>Q This is going to be big news, and it is big news, across the Western Hemisphere, because migrants aren\u2019t just coming from the Northern Triangle anymore; they\u2019re coming from Chile, from Peru, from Ecuador \u2014 whose president is here today \u2014 Venezuela, Colombia, of course. What is the White House\u2019s message to somebody who may see this somewhere in the Western Hemisphere and think, \u201cAfter Wednesday, it\u2019s going to be easier to get into the United States\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, first, I want to say the President of Ecuador has been a very good partner to us on this very issue. So I want to make that very, very clear.<\/p>\n<p>But, again, I \u2014 I stated this to Steve, and I\u2019ll say this again: The fact that the removal of Title 42 is happening in just a day or two doesn\u2019t mean that the border is open. It just doesn\u2019t mean that. When Title 42 goes away, we will go back to Title 8, which allows for a process to make sure that people can have their own asylum claims heard, and those who do not have a legal basis to remain will be quickly removed. That doesn\u2019t change the process that we have been moving forward with since day one of this administration.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we are surging \u2014 surging assistance to the border, as I\u2019ve laid out very clearly, as Secretary Mayorkas has, the past week or so. And so we\u2019re going to continue to do that.<\/p>\n<p>But again \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q So, in plain English, to migrants who might be thinking about it, what should they do after Wednesday?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just laid that really clear. It \u2014 it would be wrong to think that the border is open. It is not open. And I just want to be very, very clear about that.<\/p>\n<p>Q You \u2014 we\u2019re meeting here just minutes after, as Darlene pointed out, they referred the presumed next Speaker of the House to the Ethics Committee for defying a congressional subpoena. Not really been here before. Can the President foresee working with a House Speaker who defied a subpoena from his colleagues?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple of things. I do want to go back for a second to your immigration question. One of the reasons that I want to be very clear that \u2014 to folks that the border is not open and we will remove, using Title 8, is because by not being very clear on that, we are doing the work of the smugglers who are going to put forth misinformation. So we want to be very clear on that piece.<\/p>\n<p>Look, the President has said from \u2014 from \u2014 from the be- \u2014 as you know, the President \u2014 when he was President, when he was Vice President, when he was a senator \u2014 he has always been willing to work across the aisle to get things done on behalf of the American people. He said this right after the midterms. We were very clear that we want to continue to work in a bipartisan way.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ve gotten more than 200 bills signed by this President that were bipartisan bills. And let\u2019s not forget the historic pieces of legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Just on Friday, the President was in Delaware talking about the PACT Act, a bipartisan effort that\u2019s going to help millions of veterans across the country.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s not forget not too long ago, just last week, we were on the South Lawn celebrating gay marriage. And that was also a bipartisan piece of legislation. More than 5,000 people \u2014 Americans were standing outside on the lawn.<\/p>\n<p>So we have had those successes. We\u2019ve had the CHIPS and Science Act, and we have had others \u2014 the bipartisan infrastructure legislation. So it can be done.<\/p>\n<p>As it relates to McCarthy or any other \u2014 any other Republican who, to your question about their role in any of this, I would ask them. This is a question for them to answer about their own actions and for them to explain.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Peter.<\/p>\n<p>Q When is the President going to sign the NDAA?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He\u2019s going to sign that later this week.<\/p>\n<p>Q Okay. Sign it \u201clater this week.\u201d You can\u2019t identify for us the date?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don\u2019t have a date for you, but he\u2019ll sign it later this week.<\/p>\n<p>Q Can I ask you specifically then on the President\u2019s thinking on the fact that this NDAA obviously includes the termination of the military vaccination program?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, every NDAA \u2014 and I \u2014 I\u2019ve said this a couple times in the past 10 days \u2014 has some provisions we support and some we do not. Clearly, the President was opposed to rolling back the vaccine mandate. But we saw that Republicans in Congress decided that they\u2019d rather \u2014 rather fight against the health and wellbeing of the troops than protecting them.<\/p>\n<p>So making sure our troops are prepared and ready for service is a priority for this President. The vaccination requirement for COVID does just that.<\/p>\n<p>And while the President opposes this repeal, but \u2014 with more than 98 percent of our active-duty troops vaccinated, that means that he \u2014 overwhelming bulk of our force is in compliance with the requirement and remains protected against COVID. Because we\u2019ve seen more than 98 percent of them are fully vaccinated.<\/p>\n<p>Q So to be very clear: Would the President welcome those who left the service or refused to get vaccinated if they now say, \u201cI want to serve the United States military\u201d?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, that is something that the Department of Defense has to decide on specific service members. What I can tell you \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q But would he welcome them?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, that \u2014 again, they have a process on how that runs \u2014 the Department of Defense. We will let them run that process. What we can say is that, you know, the President \u2014 as I mentioned, he\u2019s going to sign the NDAA.<\/p>\n<p>He was very clear, I was very clear from here about how \u2014 you know, how he \u2014 he opposed the fact that congressional Republicans removed the vaccination mandate from that piece of legislation.<\/p>\n<p>Q Let me ask you one more question, just to punctuate what we\u2019ve been saying about what happened on the Hill today. Obviously, we\u2019re getting the executive summary, getting new details about all of this. And I know you don\u2019t want to get \u2014 interfere in any form with what the Department of Justice is going to decide. But the fundamental motivation for the President running for office was, as he described it, this \u201cbattle for the soul of the nation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>About 964 people, as I have counted so far \u2014 I think is the latest number \u2014 have been charged for their role as rioters. But we heard from Jamie Raskin today: \u201cOurs is not a system of government where foot soldiers go to jail and masterminds and ringleaders get a free pass.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If no, quote, \u201cmasterminds\u201d or \u201cringleaders\u201d are charged, will the Pre- \u2014 how does the President sort of view the status of this battle for the soul of the nation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I\u2019m certainly not going to get ahead of any legal outcome that can \u2014 may come out of it.<\/p>\n<p>Q What\u2019s the status of the battle for the soul of the nation?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look \u2014 but the President \u2014 I said this just moments ago \u2014 he believes that our democracy is still under attack and that we have to do everything that we can to protect it. He gave two very \u2014 very important speeches on our democracy and where we stand today.<\/p>\n<p>And so we \u2014 again, he believes we have to do everything to protect it. And not only do \u2014 does he believe that, but a majority of Americans who \u2014 who exercise their right to vote during the midterms believe the same as well.<\/p>\n<p>And so, again, we have to do everything that we can to protect it. That\u2019s what the President believes. He\u2019s going to continue to speak to this.<\/p>\n<p>And, you know, what we saw on January 6th, as the President has said, was \u2014 it was an attack on our democracy si- \u2014 it was the worst attack on our democracy since the Civil War.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<br \/>\nQ Just a question on migration. The President tasked the Vice President with studying and working on the root causes of some of these issues. I\u2019m wondering if there\u2019s any update from this side of the White House on what she\u2019s been doing and what she will continue to do as we\u2019re expecting an influx at the border after Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Well, as you know, the President appreciates the partnership that he has with the Vice President. You\u2019re right, that has been her charge, to work in a diplomatic way on finding the root causes of \u2014 of migration. I don\u2019t have anything to lay out specifically on what that work looks like.<\/p>\n<p>But, again, we appreciate her partnership. And I would probably refer you to her office on anything specific on the work that she\u2019s doing.<\/p>\n<p>Q Okay. And then on \u2014 on another topic. The President said, when he was in Nantucket, that he will be getting his physical before the end of the year. I\u2019m wondering if you have any update on when that will be and if those results will be made public before whatever announcement he might make about his future political plans.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I\u2019m not going to get ahead of his future political plans. Not going to do that from here. As you know, I\u2019m covered by the Hatch Act. So we respect the rule of law from here, so I\u2019m not going to even touch that.<\/p>\n<p>But what I can say, and I\u2019ve said this before: The President is in good health and maintains an active lifestyle, as his doctors have said and as a \u2014 as a number of independent experts also told the New York Times and others, just to highlight that for a second.<\/p>\n<p>He will have a physical in the upcoming months, and the results will be released like they were most recently, in the same way. And it will \u2014 we will be transparent.<\/p>\n<p>Q So is it still the case, as he told reporters in Nantucket, that he\u2019ll be getting it before the end of the year, or has that \u2014 has that timeline changed?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I just don\u2019t have a specific timeline. All I can tell \u2014 tell you is that in the incom- \u2014 in coming months, we will \u2014 he will have a physical, and we will certainly release those results in a transparent way, just like we did last year. That hasn\u2019t changed.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q I know you\u2019ve been asked about this before, but just yesterday, Representative Cuellar told \u201cFace the Nation\u201d that he wants to see President Biden go to the border. He said it doesn\u2019t have to be for a photo op, but a leader has to show images of being up there in front. So does the President have any plans to go to the border? Is now a good time to go?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Like you said, I\u2019ve addressed this before. Look, the President\u2019s focus right now is to come up with solutions, is focused on making sure that we have the resources to manage what \u2014 the challenges that we\u2019re seeing at the border. And right now, we \u2014 as you know, we have a budget request in front of Congress. And, again, if congressional Republicans are serious about dealing with the challenges that we\u2019re seeing at the border, they will assist.<\/p>\n<p>Q But given what we\u2019re seeing at the border \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I \u2014 I just answered the question. I just said we\u2019ve \u2014 we\u2019ve litigated that back and forth here for the past two weeks or so. The President\u2019s focus right now is to make sure that we have the resources to manage what\u2019s happening right now.<br \/>\nGo ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Does the President \u2014 or, excuse me, does the White House plan to do anything to tweak the rules in the Inflation Reduction Act to accommodate France and Germany? Both countries have asked the U.S. to grant Europe the same exemp- \u2014 exemptions \u2014 excuse me \u2014 for nations with free trade deals for green subsidies.<br \/>\nMS. JEAN-PIERRE: Don\u2019t have anything here to share than what I\u2019ve said probably about a month or \u2014 month or so ago. We are talking to our \u2014 to our European allies about the, you know, exceptions that they \u2014 or, the \u2014 the issues that they may have. Just don\u2019t have anything to share at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q France and Germany sort of re-upped those requests within the last two days. I\u2019m just wondering, has the White House responded yet, either publicly or privately, to those?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Don\u2019t ha- \u2014 I don\u2019t have anything to share with you on a response. But it is a conversations that we were \u2014 we have been having with our \u2014 our European counterparts.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead, Jacqui.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thank you, Karine. El Paso\u2019s Democratic mayor has declared a state of emergency. And he said that he would only do that when he felt he could no longer keep his community or the asylum seekers safe. He\u2019s saying that that time is now, ahead of Title 42 expiring. What is the White House response to that?<br \/>\nMS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we have \u2014 from day one, President Biden has taken steps to reduce disorderly migration while expanding legal pathways for orderly migration. We are in constant communication with the mayor of El Paso.<\/p>\n<p>And, look, I talked about the Venezuelan enforcement initiative that\u2019s helped drop the \u2014 the \u2014 the migration \u2014 which is, as you know, an initiative \u2014 a drastic ni- \u2014 by a drastic 90 percent drop. And we\u2019re going to continue to do that work.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we\u2019re surging \u2014 we\u2019re surging resources to the border. We\u2019re going to continue to do the work that is needed. I \u2014 we saw from \u2014 from the graphs what that looked like, what the resources were. We\u2019re going to ask for the additional funding \u2014 the $3.5 billion additional funding requests from \u2014 from Congress.<\/p>\n<p>And we \u2014 you know, we want to make sure that we\u2019re really, truly addressing this challenge. Again, the 23,000 agents that we\u2019re currently seeing at the border, that is because of the work that this President has done. And \u2014 and these are \u2014 you know, this is a historic number of agents that we see at the \u2014 at the border \u2014 at the border.<\/p>\n<p>Again, we\u2019re going to continue to ask for additional funding from \u2014 from Congress to assist us in dealing with this challenge at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Q The resources, though, that you laid out at the top, specifically in El Paso \u2014 you know, there\u2019s \u2014 there\u2019s video that was just released by one Republican member of Congress to show that it\u2019s really not making a difference. There was one Border Patrol facility on Friday. He says there are 4,600 migrants in that facility; its capacity is 1,040. And we\u2019re still \u2014 you know, Title 42 is still in place with \u2014 they\u2019re at four times their capacity right now.<\/p>\n<p>So is the view that this is working, that that \u2014 that those resources are working that you guys have said are from the \u2014 you know, the work of this President? Is that sufficient? Is it working?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, we\u2019re asking for $3.5 billion in additional funding to help us \u2014 right? \u2014 with the challenges that we\u2019re seeing. So if congressional Republicans are serious about this, serious about dealing with what \u2014 the challenges that we\u2019re currently seeing, then they would assist in helping making sure the men and the women of the DHS has the resources that they need.<\/p>\n<p>In the meantime, the Department of Homeland Security is surging resources to the border and have additional robust planning efforts underway.<\/p>\n<p>And so, again, we\u2019re asking for additional funding. We are surging resources. But if they truly, truly want to assist, instead of doing political ploys like they have been for the past several months, they will, you know, adhere to our funding requests that we\u2019ve put forward.<\/p>\n<p>Q A little bit to Ed\u2019s question, though: You know, this push from the podium to get Republicans to send more resources to the border \u2014 a lot of them say that, you know, they hesitate to throw more money at a problem when the Homeland Security Secretary is saying that the border is secure. And some of the people who would have to vote on that bill also don\u2019t have a lot of details on, you know, what\u2019s in it and where that money goes.<\/p>\n<p>But that \u2014 all that aside, you know, if you\u2019re saying that Republicans aren\u2019t doing the work to get this done, and then you have someone like Joe Manchin saying, well, the President has the ability to ask for an extension; he should be asking for an extension because we\u2019re at this point where you\u2019ve got a deadline and a crisis \u2014 is that within the President\u2019s authority to do that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we remain \u2014 we\u2019re \u2014 we remain under a court order to lift Title 42. That is a court order.<\/p>\n<p>Q Aren\u2019t you guys driving it though?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That is \u2014 that is a court order that is telling us to lift Title 42. And we\u2019re going to comply because we follow the rule of law. That is \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q But the administration sought to lift it.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That is \u2014 but it is a court order. That is \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q Started by you guys.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It was a court order that has been provided to us, and so now we have to comply. And that is \u2014 we have to comply by December 21st. It is \u2014 it is a law that has been \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q So you\u2019re saying you don\u2019t support lifting Title 42? Or \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I\u2019m saying is that \u2014 I \u2014 what I\u2019m saying \u2014 that it is a court order that has been presented to us that we are going to comply with.<\/p>\n<p>So you\u2019ve asked a couple of questions, and I\u2019m going to answer them if you give me a second.<\/p>\n<p>Q Sorry.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, in the funding request, the $3.5 billion, I\u2019ve already listed them out. I\u2019m happy to do them again:<\/p>\n<p>You scale up \u2014 we want to scale up air and ground transportation capabilities to move migrants to processing to less-crowded Border Patrol sectors and quickly remove them if they don\u2019t have a legal basis to remain.<\/p>\n<p>Set up an additional CBP holding facilities and speed up the processing time so individuals can have their asylum claims har- \u2014 heard faster.<\/p>\n<p>Hire more than 300 additional agents to join our force of 23,000 agents working to secure the border. 23,000 \u2014 that is historic. We\u2019ve not seen that before. And again, that is because of the work that this President has done giving historic fundings to the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>Secure additional technologies and equipment like automated processing system, law enforcement radios, upgraded surveillance and inspection technologies, and more increased support for border cities and towns like El Paso.<\/p>\n<p>So the $3.5 billion, there is a plan for it. There is a way forward in getting the resources that the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security need to do the work at the border.<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 but what we have been hearing from Republicans and seeing from Republicans in Congress is political ploys. They\u2019re not assisting. They\u2019re not offering any assistance \u2014 many of them are not. And so we are asking, right now \u2014 if they are serious about this, they are serious about dealing with the challenges, then they would \u2014 they would adhere to our funding request.<\/p>\n<p>And I want to be really careful: Again, look, you know, Title 42 is going to be lifted. Yes, it will. But they\u2019re \u2014 we are going to move to Title 8.<\/p>\n<p>The border is not open. And so, I want to be very clear about that, because we\u2019re doing the smugglers\u2019 job if we spread misinformation.<\/p>\n<p>And \u2014 and so, again, just want to be very clear about that. And so I\u2019m going to move on.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine, with regards to Manchin, just to put a fine point on it, because he did go on to say that \u201cI think [the] administration is doing that or will do that\u201d with regards to an extension. There are no plans to ask for any sort of an extension, is that what you\u2019re saying?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: What I can tell you is we are required by a court order to lift Title 42. That\u2019s December 21st. And we\u2019re going to comply with that order.<\/p>\n<p>Any other additional questions about any legal actions, I would refer you to Department of Justice.<\/p>\n<p>Q And you\u2019ve said that \u201cthe border is not open.\u201d You said that a couple of times. Will the President deliver that message in person next month in Mexico at the North American Leaders\u2019 Summit?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I don\u2019t even have a trip to announce at this time today. All I can tell you is that we are in plans, in conversations. So don\u2019t even have anything to confirm, to \u2014 to speak to a hypothetical.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q President Putin traveled to Belarus today. Does the administration have any concerns that there might be additional collaboration between the two countries? Any concern that, you know, Belarus may be providing additional military support to Russia?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, we have long been concerned by Belarus\u2019s role in Russia\u2019s aggression. Belarus has enabled Russia\u2019s war against Ukraine, providing support for Russia and allowing Belarusian territory to be used as a staging ground for Russian forces.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we continue to monitor Russia\u2019s force posture closely. That\u2019s something that we have been doing and will continue to do, including a Belarus \u2014 in Belarus, and remain in close contact with Ukraine as they valiantly defend themselves against Russia aggression. So we\u2019re continuing to do that.<\/p>\n<p>Q China acknowledged their first two COVID-19 deaths since they changed their strict pandemic control policies. Does the administration have any concerns that this change could affect, you know, the global supply chain, the global economy? And has the U.S. been in touch with China about it?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So I don\u2019t have anything to read out on any conversation with China. Clearly, all of the \u2014 all of these things, as it relates to the economy, we keep a close eye on. But as you know, we \u2014 we are just not going to comment on China\u2019s policy.<\/p>\n<p>What we\u2019re focused on \u2014 focusing on right now is making sure that Americans across the country get the new vaccine. We know \u2014 we know the tools that work to protect us from COVID, and so we\u2019re going to continue to speak directly to the American people on what those tools are. And, again, we \u2014 we encourage Americans to get that new vaccine, especially ahead of the holidays.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah, go ahead. I\u2019ll come to the back in a second. Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q You mentioned that the President has been in touch with the mayor of El Paso, but has he talked to \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: No, I said \u201cwe\u201d \u2014 we\u2019ve been in touch with him, with the mayor \u2014 our administration.<\/p>\n<p>Q Have you been in touch with any of the border state governors?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I don\u2019t have any re- \u2014 calls or readouts to provide on any particular conversations. But beca- \u2014 we have an inter-governmental affairs shop, and clearly they tend to be in close touch with mayors and governors across the country. I just don\u2019t have anything to provide for you at this time.<\/p>\n<p>Hunter, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q I\u2019m interested \u2014 so, does \u2014 you know, how important does the President think it is to get the Electoral Count Reform Act passed, you know, in these final days of Democrats ruling the House? What message would it send to pass that ahead of this anniversary of January 6th?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, I think \u2014 we\u2019ve been very clear on that particular piece of legislation. We support it. We continue to believe this as a priority and has seen \u2014 and has seen bipartisan support, as you know, in both the House and the Senate. And we hope Congress acts and sends this to the President\u2019s desk.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thanks, Karine. Oh, you want to go first? I\u2019ll go next.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thank you so much. Karine, I have two questions. To follow up on the COVID in China, Dr. Fauci has said that he worries about a new \u2014 relaxing of the zero-COVID policy going to result in a new wave of infection in China and result in new variants. Is the United States considering any, you know, precautions, like, you know, that the travelers from China have to produce, like, a negative result test in the coming month?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, it\u2019s \u2014 the way that we see it is it\u2019s important that countries focus on getting people vaccinated and making testing and treatment easily accessible. And so we continue to carefully monitor the state of the pandemic globally so that we can continue to stay ahead of it. That\u2019s always \u2014 we\u2019ve \u2014 always heard to say that we want to be one foot ahead.<\/p>\n<p>And so, I don\u2019t have anything more to share on any specific, you know, policy as it relates to China.<\/p>\n<p>Q Second question. So, on the same day when Twitter banned several journalists\u2019 accounts last week, and one of the Chinese human rights activists was also \u2014 who is based in Seattle \u2014 her Twitter account was also banned without any warning. So does the White House worry about this trend to reporters and activists \u2014 their voice is being affected on the Internet?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: You\u2019re talking \u2014 say that one more time, the \u2014<\/p>\n<p>Q Yes. So, her name is Wang Qingpeng. She\u2019s a Chinese human rights activist based in Seattle. And the same day of all \u2014 you know, a lot of our colleagues here, including VOA\u2019s Steve Herman was banned, her account was permanently suspended without warning. So, you know, like, the reporters and human rights activists, their voice is being affected on the Internet. Is that a trend that the White House is worrying about?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, social media companies, they make their own independent decisions about content moderation. But our support for free speech and free press is well documented. Just \u2014 Twitter, as you know, is a private company, and they will make their own decision, so \u2014 on content moderation.<\/p>\n<p>But our support, again, for free press and free speech has been well documented, and so I\u2019ll leave it there.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine, could I go?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Oh, go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thanks. I wanted to ask about: There\u2019s about 100 nominees that are under consideration in the Senate that have not yet been confirmed this year. What\u2019s the plan going into next Congress if you can\u2019t get them all confirmed this week? Will you renominate them all?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, clearly our nominee \u2014 our nominees are important. The renomination process is clearly important. But I \u2014 you know, I know that people have questions on this. I\u2019ve gotten it a couple of times. But we just don\u2019t have more information to share on what we will do. But right now, we do not have any updates to preview at this time.<\/p>\n<p>But, clearly, I get \u2014 I get the importance of the question. I just don\u2019t have anything to preview on what\u2019s next \u2014 on what it\u2019s going to look like in the next Congress.<\/p>\n<p>Q On COVID, you all relaunched the program where people can order tests online last week through USPS. Can you provide an update on how that\u2019s going? And when\u2019s the plan to close that? How long do people have to order?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That\u2019s a good question. Let me check in with Dr. Jha\u2019s team. I know that it\u2019s been very successful. I think there was a pretty high number of folks requesting for testing. I don\u2019t want to get ahead without checking with \u2014 in with him on the exact number. But it has been \u2014 you know, it has been very successful. But I don\u2019t have a time \u2014 a timeline on how long it\u2019s going to be made available to Americans.<\/p>\n<p>Q Okay.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q The latest \u201cTwitter Files\u201d show that the intelligence community was actively involved in discrediting the Hunter Biden laptop story. Does it bother the President and those at the White House that a government agency like the FBI was involved in suppressing a legitimate news story?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Again, I\u2019m just going to refer you to the FBI. I\u2019m not going to comment from here about that.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thank you so much. On migration and Title 42: In June this year, the President was in Los Angeles and with other leaders. They signed a (inaudible) Declaration on Migration. So can you maybe update us on what\u2019s happened since? And is the administration generally happy with what other countries in the hemisphere are doing to tackle this issue?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, we had a very good \u2014 as you know, a very good meeting with those 19 or 20 countries from the Western Hemisphere. And, as you said, we laid out, Aurelia, a declaration.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we met with \u2014 the President is \u2014 has had a very good relationship \u2014 President of Ecuador was here. They\u2019ve been a very good partner on dealing with the migration issue. We\u2019ve \u2014 we\u2019ve talked about the Venezuela initiative.<\/p>\n<p>So, there has been some progress on how we\u2019re moving forward with the Western Hemisphere and the migration issue that we\u2019re dealing with. But, look, you know, we\u2019re going to continue to have that diplomacy, and that is something \u2014 the reason that we have seen the success, the reason that we\u2019ve seen that 90 percent drop in Venezuelans coming into the country is because of the President\u2019s leadership on this.<\/p>\n<p>Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Hey, Karine. Jamie Raskin, when he was doing the criminal referral in the House today, he brought up the Insurrection Act and its prohibition on people holding any \u2014 people being disqualified from future office.<\/p>\n<p>My question is: Does the White House think that that would apply to the presidency, and are there any concerns about having prosecutors make a decision that, in theory, could have \u2014<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Could you \u2014 could you say that again?<\/p>\n<p>Q Yeah. So, Jamie Raskin did a criminal referral of Trump and others. And he brought up the Insurrection Act, and it bars people from holding future professional office \u2014 any major office in the U.S. Does that apply to the presidency? And are their concerns about prosecutors, as they look at that case, making a decision that could affect one of the President\u2019s opponents?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, I would \u2014 I would refer you back to \u2014 back to the committee. That is not something that I\u2019m going to comment from here about.<\/p>\n<p>Look, we\u2019re talking about \u2014 you know, we\u2019re talking about \u2014 you know, we\u2019re trying to be very careful here. A criminal investi- \u2014 a potential criminal investigation that\u2019s going to go to the Department of Justice that they are going to have to make a decision on, we\u2019re just not going to get involved in any way, even with that question that you\u2019re asking me. Just going to be very \u2014 very \u2014 very \u2014 very careful here. We don\u2019t want to interfere in any political way. And we\u2019re just not going to do that in this administration.<\/p>\n<p>But I would refer you \u2014 with that specific question that \u2014 that the congressman made, the statement that he made, I would refer you to him.<\/p>\n<p>Q In that case, on immigration \u2014 I have a quick one on that. It sounds like you\u2019re teasing some policy announcements for tomorrow. Would that be an executive order? And are you looking at expanding the \u2014 people able to apply for asylum online and fly into the country?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I\u2019m just not going to get ahead of any potential announcement. I would just say, you know, stay tuned, and we\u2019ll likely have a call on it.<\/p>\n<p>Q Thanks, Karine.<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Go ahead.<\/p>\n<p>Q Karine, Texas Governor Abbott said that if Title 42 expires, that the border would be, quote, \u201ctotal chaos.\u201d Is that a correct assessment? Or what\u2019s your response to that?<\/p>\n<p>MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Here, what I can say \u2014 and I\u2019ve answered this question many \u2014 many which ways from your colleagues today. What I can say is that Department of Homeland Security is surging resources at the border at this time, and we have additional robust planning efforts underway. And, you know, we need Congress to give us the funds we\u2019ve requested to do this in a safe, orderly \u2014 in a safe, orderly, and humane way.<\/p>\n<p>And again, I\u2019ll say this \u2014 this one last time: If Republicans in Congress are serious about the border \u2014 border security and actually address \u2014 addressing this challenge, they would ensure that the men and women at the Department of Homeland Security have the resources that they need to do their jobs. And so that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to continue to ask for and request.<\/p>\n<p>But, again, we are doing the work. The President has been doing the work at the border since day one by first putting forth the immigration reform legislation and also securing funding \u2014 historic funding to Department of Homeland Security, that 23,000 agents \u2014 that matter. That is something we have not seen under any other President. Now we\u2019re asking Congressional Republicans to assist and do the same.<\/p>\n<p>Thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Washington, DC&#8230;All right. I heard a \u201coh, wow.\u201d I\u2019m not even going to ask why. (Laughter.) All right. Good afternoon, everyone. Q Good afternoon. I just have one \u2014 one thing at the top for all of you. First, I want to \u2014 to wish a Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate. This evening, the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":153060,"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-153059","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\/2022\/12\/Fullscreen-capture-12212022-121758-AM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153059","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=153059"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153059\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":153061,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/153059\/revisions\/153061"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/153060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=153059"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=153059"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=153059"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}