The Biden-Harris Administration has unveiled the first-ever U.S. National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Hate, developed in collaboration with civil society partners. This initiative, which includes over 100 Executive Branch Actions and Calls to Action, aims to address the discrimination and threats faced by Muslim and Arab Americans. The strategy focuses on increasing awareness, improving safety, tackling discrimination, and building cross-community solidarity. It follows the establishment of an interagency group to counter related forms of bias and discrimination, emphasizing the need for collective action to ensure equal justice and security for all.
The Biden-Harris Administration has proposed a new rule to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for anti-obesity medications, aiming to make these treatments more affordable for millions of Americans. This initiative is part of a broader effort to lower prescription drug costs and improve health outcomes, building on previous legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act. The proposal could significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for these medications, which are crucial for managing obesity-related health risks.
The Biden-Harris Administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has allocated nearly $62 billion to California since 2021, funding thousands of infrastructure projects across the state. This investment, the largest since the 1980s, supports safer roads, clean water, public transit, and climate resilience, among other initiatives. Governor Gavin Newsom emphasizes the transformative impact of these projects, which align with his agenda to accelerate infrastructure development. The funding breakdown includes significant allocations for roads, public transit, and broadband, contributing to job creation and long-term benefits for Californians.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, along with 16 other states, successfully challenged the Biden-Harris Administration's "parole in place" rule, which would have allowed millions of illegal immigrants to gain permanent residency without leaving the U.S. The court ruled the program unconstitutional, siding with the states' argument that it bypassed Congressional authority and posed a threat to community security.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing them of unlawfully deploying federal agents to monitor Texas elections. Paxton argues that this action violates state law, as federal agents are not authorized to be present at polling or counting locations in Texas. The lawsuit claims this move infringes on the state's constitutional authority to conduct its own elections.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit against the Biden-Harris Administration and the U.S. Department of Justice, accusing them of unlawfully deploying federal agents to monitor Texas elections. Paxton argues that this action violates state law, which does not permit federal personnel at polling or counting locations. The lawsuit claims this federal oversight infringes on Texas's constitutional authority to conduct its elections independently.
The Biden-Harris Administration, through the EPA, has announced nearly $160 million in grants to 38 recipients to support the production of low-carbon construction materials. Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, these grants aim to reduce climate pollution from manufacturing processes and support the Federal Buy Clean Initiative. The initiative leverages the U.S. government's purchasing power to promote cleaner materials in federal infrastructure projects, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and fostering job growth in the clean energy sector.
The NAACP has called on the Biden-Harris administration to halt weapons shipments to Israel and push for an immediate and permanent ceasefire following recent airstrikes in Gaza that resulted in significant civilian casualties. The organization emphasizes the need for the U.S. and international community to take decisive action to end the violence and work towards a two-state solution.
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new initiatives to strengthen the U.S. nuclear industry and advance clean energy goals, including the creation of a Nuclear Power Project Management and Delivery working group, support for advanced reactor deployment, and measures to reduce reliance on Russian uranium. These efforts aim to achieve a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035, create good-paying jobs, and ensure energy security and affordability.
The Biden-Harris Administration announced nearly $900 million in funding through the EPA's Clean School Bus Program to replace over 3,400 diesel school buses with cleaner alternatives, primarily electric, across 530 districts. This initiative aims to improve air quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support American manufacturing, particularly benefiting low-income, rural, and Tribal communities.
The Biden-Harris Administration has launched a Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative with commitments from 21 states to modernize and expand the U.S. power grid. This initiative aims to enhance grid capacity, integrate clean energy, and improve resilience against climate impacts. The administration is also streamlining federal permitting processes and providing significant funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support these efforts.
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new principles for high-integrity voluntary carbon markets (VCMs) to ensure they drive credible climate action and economic opportunities. These principles aim to establish robust standards for carbon credits, improve market functioning, and ensure fair treatment of participants. The administration's efforts include creating new climate opportunities for farmers, advancing carbon dioxide removal technologies, and supporting international market development. The goal is to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of VCMs in achieving the U.S.'s ambitious climate goals.
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced 35 projects across 20 states that will receive a total of $1.93 billion in allocations of the Qualifying Advanced Energy Project Credit (48C) as part of President Biden’s clean energy manufacturing and recycling initiative. These projects aim to address critical needs in the clean energy economy, including grid components, electric vehicle components, solar components, clean steel, critical materials processing and recycling, and other clean energy products. Seven of the projects are located in traditional energy communities, supporting the administration's commitment to invest in communities with closed coal mines or coal plants. The projects will also create jobs and training opportunities in the clean energy and manufacturing sectors.
The Biden-Harris Administration has announced new measures to protect the U.S. steel and shipbuilding industry from China's unfair trade practices, including a call to triple the tariff rate on steel and aluminum imports from China, an investigation into China's unfair shipbuilding practices, and actions to support American steel manufacturing and clean steel production. These efforts aim to address concerns about unfair competition from Chinese steel and aluminum imports, prevent evasion of tariffs, and invest in sustainable steel production to fortify the infrastructure and support American workers.
The U.S. Department of Energy has released a report highlighting the potential of advanced grid solutions to increase grid capacity, improve reliability, and lower costs. The report emphasizes the availability of near-term solutions, the untapped value of the existing grid, the low cost and quick deployment of these solutions, and the possibility of liftoff within three to five years. The Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to strengthening the nation's transmission and distribution grid through significant funding is also highlighted, with a focus on deploying advanced technologies to enhance grid flexibility and resilience.
