US executive branch text over image of White HouseThis report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

10:00 a.m. EDT – The President and The Vice President receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

12:30 p.m. EDT – The President has lunch with The Vice President | Private Dining Room

2:00 p.m. EDT – The President and The Vice President meet with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and immigration advisors | State Dining Room

4:15 p.m. EDT – The President and The First Lady host an event with Margaret Purce, Megan Rapinoe, and members of the U.S. Soccer Women’s National Team to mark Equal Pay Day | South Court Auditorium

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

10:00 a.m. EDT – the Vice President will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the Oval Office

12:30 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will have lunch with the President in the Private Dining Room

2:00 p.m. EDT – the President and the Vice President will meet with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and immigration advisors in the State Dining Room

3:30 p.m. EDT – the Vice President will convene a roundtable discussion on Equal Pay Day with women leaders of advocacy organizations. She will be joined by Cecilia Rouse, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Heather Boushey, Member of the Council of Economic Advisers.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

10:30 a.m. EDT – Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and public health officials | The White House

12:30 p.m. EDT – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Cecilia Rouse, and Member of the Council of Economic Advisers Heather Boushey | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

Recap of Tuesday, March 23, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 and reopening developments.

The White House

  • Blog:  COVID-19 has exacerbated the economic inequality and caregiving crisis facing women of color. Here’s how the American Rescue Plan helps.
  • Remarks by President Biden on the Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act
  • Remarks by President Biden Before Boarding Air Force One
  • Transcript:  Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
  • Remarks by President Biden During Tour of Radiation Oncology Department
  • Transcript:  Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jen Psaki Aboard Air Force One en route Columbus, Ohio
  • Proclamation on Education and Sharing Day, USA, 2021
  • Remarks by President Biden on the Shooting in Boulder, Colorado
  • Press Release:  President Biden to Meet Virtually with EU Leaders at European Council Summit
  • Proclamation Honoring the Victims of the Tragedy in Boulder, Colorado
  • Bill Signed into Law:
    • 579, which modifies the effective date of the elimination of the five month waiting period to receive Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance benefits for individuals diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Department of Defense (DOD)

  • Press Release:  Contracts Awarded for Next Generation Interceptor Program
  • Press Release:  Defense of Taiwan Vital to Regional, National Security, Admiral Says
  • Article:  Deputy Defense Secretary Sees Challenges, Opportunities for DOD
  • Article:  Afghanistan, COVID-19, Maritime Exercises Among Topics Covered at Pentagon Briefing
  • Article:  Top Defense Official Calls Military’s COVID Effort ‘Phenomenal’
  • Article:  If DOD Wants AI In Its Future, It Must Start Now, Official Says
  • Contracts for March 23, 2021

Department of State

  • Daily Schedule | Wednesday, March 24
  • March 23:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with German Foreign Minister Maas
  • March 23:  Transcript | Briefing with Senior State Department Official on the NATO Ministerial
  • March 23:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Le Drian, German Foreign Minister Maas, and UK Foreign Secretary Raab
  • March 23:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Petříček, Hungarian Foreign Minister Szijjártó, Polish Foreign Minister Rau, and Slovak Foreign Minister Korčok
  • March 23:  Readout | High-Level Event to Strengthen Africa’s Resilience and Response to Ebola
  • March 23:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
  • March 23:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Di Maio
  • March 23:  Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at a Moderated Conversation with Rosa Balfour
  • March 23:  Statement | On the Second Anniversary of ISIS’s Territorial Defeat
  • March 23:  Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Before Their Meeting
  • March 23:  Transcript | Department Press Briefing

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

  • Remarks by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield at a UN Security Council Open Debate on Afghanistan

Department of the Treasury

  • Testimony of Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen, Before the Committee on Banking, Housing, & Urban Affairs, U. S. Senate
  • Press Release:  Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen Response to State Attorneys General Inquiries on Implementation of Section 9901 of the American Rescue Plan Act

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

  • Press Release:  SEC Issues Amendments, Seeks Public Comment on Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act

Department of Justice

  • Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
  • Press Release:  Former Ecuadorian Government Official Sentenced to Prison for Role in Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
  • Press Release:  Former Venezuelan Official Pleads Guilty in Connection with International Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme
  • Press Release:  Indian Cancer Drug Manufacturer to Pay $50 Million for Concealing and Destroying Records in Advance of FDA Inspection
  • Press Release:  Oklahoma Man Pleads Guilty to Child Pornography Charges
  • Press Release:  East L.A. Gang Member Who Led Firebombing of African-American Residences Sentenced to 16 Years in Federal Prison
  • Press Release:  Justice Department Settles Sexual Harassment Lawsuit Against Cumberland County, Tennessee for $1.1 Million

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’ Meeting with India’s Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu
  • Press Release:  CBP to Change Hours of Operation at Tecate Port of Entry (California)
  • Press Release:  Sex Offender Arrested During Maritime Smuggling Event (California)
  • Press Release:  Over $110K of Fake U.S. Currency Arriving at LAX from Hong Kong, Seized by CBP (California)
  • Video Release:  CBP’s Air and Marine Operations and Cochise County Search and Rescue Team Up to Rescue an Injured Hiker from the Huachucha Mountains (Arizona)
  • Press Release:  Border Patrol Agents Seize 900 pounds of Marijuana (Texas)
  • Press Release:  Convicted Rapist Arrested by RGV Border Patrol Agents (Texas)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Press Release:  FEMA Announces Cost Share Adjustment for Two U.S. Territories (Guam, Northern Mariana Islands)
  • Press Release:  FEMA Provides an Additional $19.4 Million to North Dakota for COVID-19 Response
  • Press Release:  FEMA Awards More than $1.7 Million to the City of Boston for COVID-19 Response (Massachusetts)
  • Press Release:  FEMA Provides $8.7 Million to Ohio Emergency Management Agency for Vaccination Site
  • Press Release:  FEMA Cost Share Adjustment Grants Louisiana More Funds for Public Assistance in Hurricane Laura Recovery (Louisiana)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s virtual meeting with French Minister Bruno Le Maire
  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s virtual meeting with Mexican Secretary of Economy Tatiana Clouthier
  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s virtual meeting with South Korean Trade Minister Yoo Myung-Hee
  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s virtual call with Japan Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Kajiyama Hiroshi
  • Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s call with Japan Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu

Department of Commerce

  • Statement: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo On Intel’s Plan To Build New Semiconductor Facilities In Arizona
  • Blog:  Spotlight on Commerce | Tricia Van Orden, Deputy Director of the Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee Secretariat, International Trade Administration

US International Trade Commission (USITC)

  • Press Release:  Twist Ties from China Injure U.S. Industry, Says USITC

US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)

  • Press Release:  DFC Guaranty Catalyzes $20 Million to Support Off-Grid Renewable Power

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

  • Press Release:  USDA Invests $266 Million to Improve Rural Community Facilities and Essential Services in 16 States and Puerto Rico
  • Press Release:  USDA Awards Over $11.5 Million to Help Small and Mid-Sized Farms on National Ag Day

Environmental Protection Agency

  • Statement by EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan on National Agriculture Day

Department of Labor

  • Press Release:  US Department of Labor announces proposed rulemakings to further consider, review tipped workers’ regulations

Department of Education

  • Press Release:  How the U.S. Department of Education is Helping Schools Reopen Safely and Meet the Needs of Students

Health & Human Services (HHS)

  • Press Release:  2021 Special Enrollment Period Access Extended to August 15 on HealthCare.gov for Marketplace Coverage

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

  • Press Release:  Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update | March 23, 2021

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages

Non-USG COVID Webpages

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine