{"id":161579,"date":"2023-06-12T14:57:28","date_gmt":"2023-06-12T21:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=161579"},"modified":"2023-06-12T14:57:28","modified_gmt":"2023-06-12T21:57:28","slug":"president-biden-and-first-lady-jill-biden-at-the-signing-of-the-executive-order-on-advancing-economic-security-for-military-and-veteran-spouses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/?p=161579","title":{"rendered":"President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden at the Signing of the Executive Order on Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Fort Liberty, NC&#8230;(Formerly Fort Bragg)&#8230;Thank you, General Donahue.  And thank you for your leadership here at Liberty.  Through Joining Forces \u2014 my White House initiative to support military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors \u2014 I\u2019ve traveled to bases across this country and across the world.  And I\u2019ve sat with military families just like yours to learn about their experiences and their challenges.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/8GM2-k33dhQ\" title=\"President Biden and the First Lady Meet with Service Members and Their Families and Deliver Remarks\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Even though every story is unique, again and again I hear the same thing: that you\u2019re proud of your family\u2019s service, but you miss the careers that you\u2019ve had to leave behind; that you\u2019re stuck looking for work that doesn\u2019t put your education and your experience to good use; that you take the jobs you can get even if you don\u2019t want them because, well, there are bills to pay.<\/p>\n<p>You told me that the life of a military spouse is rewarding in so many ways, but it isn\u2019t easy.<\/p>\n<p>And as I was having these conversations, Joining Forces was working with military spouse employee resource groups at agencies across the government to figure out the solutions that could make the difference in your lives. <\/p>\n<p>And when we brought these stories back to Joe, he listened.  He understands \u2014 (the President makes the sign of the cross) \u2014 (laughter) \u2014 he understands that we can\u2019t ask our service members to choose between their love of country and their love of family.  He knows that the supporting military spouses is a national security imperative.<\/p>\n<p>And in the last two years, he\u2019s done so much to respond to the challenges that you all face.  He\u2019s committed all agencies to partner with the \u2014 the Department of Defense to hire military spouses.  And he\u2019s signed an executive \u2014 a historic executive order to improve care for hardworking families, including military and veteran families.<\/p>\n<p>Today, thanks to you, Joe is helping our country take yet another step forward with an executive order that addresses the challenges for those in the federal workforce, those looking to take a job with them when they PCS overseas, or spouses trying to start their own business.<\/p>\n<p>And this will not only benefit active-duty spouses, but veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors as well.<\/p>\n<p>This moment \u2014 this moment belongs to your community.<\/p>\n<p>So, I want to thank all the military spouses everywhere who made it possible.  Thank you for sharing your stories.  Thank you for trusting us to make this right.<\/p>\n<p>Of course, we know that this order won\u2019t solve the challenges of spouse unemployment on its own.  So we\u2019re in \u2014 calling on employers everywhere to do their part.  Recruit military spouses.  Offer flexible work opportunities so that you can retain their talent no matter where in the world they are working.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, it\u2019s vital for the future of our nation.  But it\u2019s also a great way to find the dynamic talent that your businesses need.<\/p>\n<p>Spouses bring experience and adaptability that \u2014 that really can\u2019t be taught.<\/p>\n<p>And when they get the opportunities that they deserve, our service members can do their duty knowing that those they love most are able to thrive.  We all benefit.<\/p>\n<p>So, with all my heart, thank you for your service and your sacrifice.<\/p>\n<p>And now, I\u2019m proud to welcome someone who knows why this executive order is so important, because it\u2019s made for people like her.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany, thank you for your service as an Army spouse and as a proud Womack Army Medical Center employee.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s Tiffany.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>MS. ZOELLER:  Thank you, Dr. Biden.<\/p>\n<p>My name is Tiffany Zoeller.  I\u2019m a military spouse of five years, and my husband is Sergeant First Class Lee Zoeller.  We have two handsome sons: Jaden, who\u2019s nine, and Jackson, who\u2019s three.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m also a federal employee.  I work for the dental department at Womack Army Medical Center for the Advanced Education in Gen- \u2014 General Dentistry Program.  It\u2019s a two-year residency clinic here at Fort Liberty. <\/p>\n<p>I love what I do, as a secretary of the program, and I appreciate the people I work with.<\/p>\n<p>I was able to get the opportunity to support this program due to the Military Spouse Hiring Authority.  I may still be looking for employment if that door was not opened for me.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m personally grateful for the recognition and support the Biden administration is giving to military spouses and their families.  This allows \u2014 this support is so important to allow families like mine to thrive while our loved ones are serving in uniform.<\/p>\n<p>And it is now my honor to introduce the President of the United States, Joe Biden.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Hello, Fort Liberty.  (Applause.)  It\u2019s great to be back at \u201cthe center of the universe\u201d \u2014 especially with all you crazy guys that jump out of planes.  (Laughter.)<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany, thanks so much for that introduction and for your family\u2019s service to our country.<\/p>\n<p>General Donahue and Command Sergeant Major Holland; general officers; the governor of the great state of North Carolina, who\u2019s here with us; congressman from the district, who\u2019s here with us: It\u2019s an honor to be here with you this afternoon.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not going to take a lot of your time.<\/p>\n<p>You know, people like to joke that when the President calls 911, the phone rings at Fort Liberty.  (Laughs.)  Well, that\u2019s not too far from the truth. <\/p>\n<p>When \u2014 when you answer, you answer freedom\u2019s call every time.  You \u2014 it\u2019s you who take on so many of the nationals \u2014 the nation\u2019s toughest missions.<\/p>\n<p>You deploy quickly and quietly.  You risk your safety and protect the safety of Americans all across the world and all around the world.  I\u2019ve been in over 80 countries seeing how you work, and you\u2019re incredible.<\/p>\n<p>We literally have the single-finest fighting force in the history of the world.  That is not hyperbole.  That\u2019s a fact.  (Applause.)  That is a fact.<\/p>\n<p>And as the English poet John Milton once wrote, \u201cThey also serve who only stand and wait.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In the years \u2014 my \u2014 our son was in Iraq for a year \u2014 before that, in Kosovo.  I get up in the morning, see my wife, who teaches school \u2014 she\u2019d start earlier than I would \u2014 and she\u2019d be standing there at the \u2014 at the sink, drinking her coffee, mouthing a prayer.  Every one of your spouses knows what happens \u2014 what possibly can happen when your son, daughter, husband, wife are deployed.<\/p>\n<p>Jill and I never forget that military spouses, caregivers, and survivors serve and sacrifice as well.  We never forget that you\u2019ve also answered the nation\u2019s call.<\/p>\n<p>And together, Jill and I and my entire administration, has never stopped working to do right by your service.  You know, we\u2019re with \u2014 with you at the \u2014 here at Fort Liberty \u2014 \u201cAll the way\u201d \u2014 Fort Liberty.<\/p>\n<p>And I tell you what: As a nation, we have many obligations, but we have only one truly sacred obligation.  And I used to get criticized years ago, as a young senator, when I\u2019d say this, but not anymore: We \u2014 the most sacred obligation America has is to prepare those we send into harm\u2019s way and care for them and their families when they come home or deploy.<\/p>\n<p>Today, we\u2019re taking an important step to fill \u2014 towards fulfilling that obligation.  This new executive order establishes the most comprehensive set of administrative actions in our nation\u2019s history to support the economic security of military families, veterans\u2019 spouses, caregivers, and survivors.<\/p>\n<p>Actions that boil down into three main goals: more flexibility, more support, and more resources.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019ll start with the flexibility piece.  This executive order encourages all federal agencies to do more to retain military spouses through flexible policies.  Policies like granting leave when their partner has to PCS, improving remote work opportunities for military spouses, including when they\u2019re stationed overseas.<\/p>\n<p>And it\u2019s just common sense to keep families together.  It keeps a talented workforce together.  And, look, it enables our government to carry out its global mission.<\/p>\n<p>Second, the executive order means more support for military-connected families.<\/p>\n<p>Changing duty stations is already hard enough.  You shouldn\u2019t have to navigate a complicated tax regulations or work requirements but \u2014 all by yourself just to do that.  If you \u2014 if you\u2019re certified in one state and you\u2019re military, you should be certified in every other state when you move to that state.<\/p>\n<p>The first time this executive order will enable spouses to seek advice on overseas employment issues through military legal assistance offices. <\/p>\n<p>It also \u2014 you also need support to navigate challenges unique to military families.  Challenges like jug- \u2014 like juggling childcare and work while your partner is deployed or when you\u2019re caring for an injured loved one.<\/p>\n<p>Too often \u2014 too often, the people you work with, they just don\u2019t know.  Not they don\u2019t care; they don\u2019t know.  They don\u2019t know what you\u2019re going through.  They don\u2019t know how it works.  They don\u2019t understand everything you go through.  That can be tough, and it can be even isolating.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why this executive order establishes new training for federal human resources and hiring personnel to ensure that all our military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors feel seen and supported.<\/p>\n<p>And finally, this executive order means more resources, especially when it comes to improving military families\u2019 access to quality, defendable [dependable], and affordable \u2014 affordable childcare.  (Applause.) <\/p>\n<p>Today we\u2019re accelerating the implementation of the Dependent Care Flexibility Spending Account, which will give military families the option to receive a pre-tax benefit for daycare, preschool, and summer camps, and much more.<\/p>\n<p>This order also focuses on providing resources \u2014 resources for military spouses who are entrepreneurs, like some of the folks up here on this stage that will be here in a moment.<\/p>\n<p>That includes exploring new funding options like grants and loans to help military spouses start and sustain their businesses, and developing new resources that are going to make it easier for entrepreneurs to relocate their businesses if they have to PCS.<\/p>\n<p>Folks, let me close with this: Next month, we\u2019ll cel- \u2014 we\u2019ll celebrate 50 years of the all-volunteer force.  At the time, there was some debate about whether or not we could draw in talent \u2014 the talent we needed, about whether Americans would answer the call to serve.<\/p>\n<p>But 50 years on, we see so clearly all of you who raised your hand.  All of you who volunteered are the reason that our military today is the greatest fighting force in the history of the world, bar none.  And that\u2019s the reason.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>And the reason \u2014 the reason we\u2019ve been able to sustain that force year after year, decade after decade is because military spouses, caregivers, and survivors have answered the call as well.<\/p>\n<p>You have your loved ones\u2019 backs just like they have the country\u2019s back.<\/p>\n<p>So the only way \u2014 the only way to keep this force strong for the next 50 years, and 50 after that and the 50 after that, is if we keep our promises \u2014 if we uphold the sacred obligation we bear to our military members, our veterans, our spouses, caregivers, and survivors.<\/p>\n<p>So today, I\u2019m here as Commander-in-Chief to sign this executive order because it matters.  It matters to our military recruitment and retention.  It matters to our troops\u2019 readiness and resilience.  And it matters to our nation\u2019s safety and security.<\/p>\n<p>Supporting our military and veterans\u2019 families is not just a moral imperative, it\u2019s a national security imperative.  And I\u2019m not joking.  It is.  And that should unite all of us \u2014 public and private sectors.<\/p>\n<p>And together, we\u2019re going to keep doing everything we can to make sure if you receive the flexibility, support, and resources that you deserve, things are going to get better.  That\u2019s my promise to you.<\/p>\n<p>And to all military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors: May God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.<\/p>\n<p>Now I\u2019m going to go over and sign this executive order.<\/p>\n<p>And thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you for your service.  (Applause.)<\/p>\n<p>Who else?  (Baby cries.)  You got it, kid.  (Laughter.) <\/p>\n<p>THE FIRST LADY:  Wow.  That\u2019s a little baby.<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Come on up here. <\/p>\n<p>PARTICIPANT:  Twelve days. <\/p>\n<p>THE FIRST LADY:  Twelve days? <\/p>\n<p>MS. ZOELLER:  Twelve days. <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Come on up. <\/p>\n<p>THE FIRST LADY:  Does anybody want to stand over here?<\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  Everybody here? <\/p>\n<p>THE FIRST LADY:  Yep.  I think everybody is here. <\/p>\n<p>THE PRESIDENT:  All right.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdvancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>(The executive order is signed.)<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s now the law.  (Applause.)  (The First Lady gives the signing pen to Tiffany Zoeller.)<\/p>\n<p>4:07 P.M. EDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fort Liberty, NC&#8230;(Formerly Fort Bragg)&#8230;Thank you, General Donahue. And thank you for your leadership here at Liberty. Through Joining Forces \u2014 my White House initiative to support military and veteran families, caregivers, and survivors \u2014 I\u2019ve traveled to bases across this country and across the world. And I\u2019ve sat with military families just like yours [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":161580,"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-161579","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\/2023\/06\/Fullscreen-capture-6122023-25614-PM.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161579","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=161579"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161581,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161579\/revisions\/161581"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/161580"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=161579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=161579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/new.thepinetree.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=161579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}