This 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
1:45 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on leveling the playing field in our economy to bring down costs and ensure that the backbone of the country, the middle class, can finally get a break | East Room
VPOTUS’ Schedule*
10:00 a.m. EDT – THE VICE PRESIDENT will receive the President’s Daily Brief in the Oval Office
*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change.
Recap of Wednesday, September 15, 2021
Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.
The White House
- Remarks by President Biden, Prime Minister Morrison of Australia, and Prime Minister Johnson of the United Kingdom Announcing the Creation of AUKUS
- Joint Leaders Statement on AUKUS
- Transcript: Background Press Call on AUKUS
- Remarks by President Biden at a Meeting with Business Leaders and CEOs on the COVID-19 Response
- Advisory: President Biden to Host Leader-Level Meeting of the Major Economies Forum on Energy and Climate (Sept. 17)
- Readout of Senior White House Meeting with Faith Leaders on Efforts to Relocate Afghan Allies
- Remarks by Vice President Harris on the Administration’s Proposed Investments in Childcare
- Statement by President Joe Biden on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Recall Election Victory
- Statement by Vice President Kamala Harris on California Governor Gavin Newsom’s Recall Election Victory
- Readout of the Sixth National Climate Task Force Meeting
- Transcript: Background Press Call on the Administration’s Climate Policy | September 16, 2021
- Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, September 15, 2021
- Letter to Congress on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect with Respect to Persons Who Commit, Threaten to Commit, or Support Terrorism
- Notice on the Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Persons who Commit, or Support Terrorism
- Press Release: President Biden Announces Members of the Community Development Advisory Board
- Press Release: President Biden Appoints Members to National Cancer Advisory Board
- Memorandum for the Secretary of State on Presidential Determination on Major Drug Transit or Major Illicit Drug Producing Countries for Fiscal Year 2022
- Fact Sheet: Biden-Harris Administration Whole-of-Government Effort to Ensure Child Tax Credit Reaches All Eligible Families
- Statement by President Biden on 2.8 Million Americans Gaining Health Care in the 2021 Special Enrollment Period
- Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the International Day of Democracy
- Statement by President Biden on Yom Kippur
Department of Defense (DOD)
- Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing
- Press Release: Anomalous Health Incidents (re: a series of sudden and troubling sensory events such as sounds, pressure, or heat concurrently or immediately preceding the sudden onset of symptoms such as headaches, pain, nausea, or disequilibrium [unsteadiness or vertigo].)
- Remarks: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Australian Minister of Defence Peter Dutton Opening Remarks at Bilateral Meeting
- Article: Australian, U.S. Defense Leaders Discuss Future of Alliance
- Article: Long-Term U.S., Australian Relationship Will Ensure Free, Open Indo-Pacific Region
- Article: DOD Taking Measures to Protect Nuclear Weapons, Space Assets
- Article: Official Says Domestic, Partner Nation Industrial Capability Critical to Security
- Press Release: DOD Awards $3.2 Billion in Contract Modifications for Monoclonal Antibodies
- Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, September 15, 2021
- Contracts for September 15, 2021
Department of State
- Daily Schedule | Thursday, September 16
- September 15: Statement | 2021 Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations
- September 15: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Payne
- September 15: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne before their Meeting
- September 15: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg
- September 15: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Call with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani
- September 15: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Landsbergis
- September 15: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis before their Meeting
- September 15: Statement | Registration is Open for the Indo-Pacific Business Forum 2021 (Oct. 28-29)
- September 15: Readout | Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry’s Trip to India
- September 15: Readout | Counselor of the U.S. Department of State Chollet and Special Envoy Norland’s Visit to Libya
- September 15: Statement | Papua New Guinea Independence Day
- September 15: Statement | Honduran Independence Day
- September 15: Statement | Guatemalan Independence Day
- September 15: Statement | El Salvador Independence Day
- September 15: Statement | Costa Rican Independence Day
- September 15: Statement | Bicentennial of Independence in Central America
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Press Release: USAID Hosts Inaugural Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) International Development Conference
- Press Release: International Day of Democracy
US Mission to the United Nations (UN)
- Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Humanitarian Situation in Syria
- Explanation of Vote on the Mandate Renewal of UNSMIL
- Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on South Sudan
- Statement by Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield on the International Day of Democracy
Department of the Treasury
- Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on Shortages in the Child Care System
- Press Release: Treasury Releases Report Showing U.S. Childcare System Overburdens Families and Causes Shortages Due to Inadequate Supply
Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Press Release: SEC Surpasses $1 Billion in Awards to Whistleblowers with Two Awards Totaling $114 Million
Department of Justice
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
- Press Release: Justice Department Issues Statement on the Vertical Merger Guidelines
- Press Release: Justice Department and EPA Reach Clean Air Act Settlement with Xtreme Diesel Performance, Ending Sale of Defeat Devices
- Press Release: Justice Department Settles with Medical Parts Manufacturing Company to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
- Press Release: Orlando Cardiologist Pays $6.75 Million to Resolve Allegations of Performing Unnecessary Medical Procedures
- Press Release: Arkansas Landscaper Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud
Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/ Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- Press Release: CBP Releases August 2021 Operational Update (Washington, D.C.)
- Press Release: Suquamish Tribe Begins Issuing Tribal Card Through Agreement with CBP (Washington, D.C.)
- Press Release: Fatigued Migrant Rescued by Agents (California)
- Press Release: Stolen Truck Used To Smuggle Migrants in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas)
- Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol Arrested Undocumented Individuals with Fraudulent Documents (Texas)
- Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue Nearly 50 Individuals Locked Inside a Trailer (Texas)
- Press Release: Pittsburgh CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit COVID-19 Vaccination Cards from China (Pennsylvania)
- Press Release: Philadelphia CBP Officers Seize Nearly $100k in Counterfeit Currency from Russia destined for Illinois (Pennsylvania)
- Press Release: COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Immigration Medical Examinations (re: immigration)
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
- Press Release: FEMA Kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month with New Video Honoring Latino Community’s Resilience
- Press Release: FEMA Mobile Registration Intake Centers Open in Plumas County (California)
- Press Release: For Many an SBA Disaster Loan is the Key to Recovery (Tennessee)
- Press Release: How to Register with FEMA for Disaster Assistance in Pennsylvania
- Press Release: Additional Preliminary Damage Assessments to Take Place in Pennsylvania
- Press Release: DRCs to Open in Somerset and Union Counties (New Jersey)
- Press Release: What to Expect When Applying with FEMA (New Jersey)
Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)
- Joint Media Statement: The Ninth EAS Economic Ministers’ Meeting
- Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s Participation in the East Asia Summit Economic Ministers’ Meeting
- Press Release: USTR Announces Fiscal Year 2022 WTO Tariff-Rate Quota Allocations for Raw Cane Sugar, Refined and Specialty Sugar, and Sugar-Containing Products
- Statement from Ambassador Katherine Tai on Hispanic Heritage Month
Department of Commerce
- Press Release: Secretary Raimondo Calls for More Vaccinations in Meeting with U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
- Press Release: Secretary Raimondo Calls for More Vaccinations in Meeting with U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Press Release: Federal Trade Commission Withdraws Vertical Merger Guidelines and Commentary
- Press Release: FTC Opens Rulemaking Petition Process, Promoting Public Participation and Accountability
- Press Release: FTC Staff Presents Report on Nearly a Decade of Unreported Acquisitions by the Biggest Technology Companies
- Press Release: FTC Warns Health Apps and Connected Device Companies to Comply With Health Breach Notification Rule
Federal Communication Commission (FCC)
- Press Release: Hurricanes Ida & Nicholas Comms Status Report for September 15, 2021
- Press Release: New Economic Analysis Bolsters Carr’s Call for Ending Big Tech’s Free
Department of Energy (DOE)
- Press Release: DOE Announces $16 Million to Support Community-Driven Pathways to Clean Energy
Department of Interior (DOI)
- Press Release: Interior Department and Intertribal Timber Council Strengthen Wildland Fire Management Collaboration
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
- Link: Other Daily EPA Press Releases
- Press Release: EPA Releases Case Study on Air Pollution Reductions for the New York/New Jersey Harbor Deepening Project
- Press Release: EPA settles with Union Pacific Railroad for Clean Water Act Violations in Oregon
Department of Labor
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor urges workers, employers, public to recognize hazards, ensure safety after Hurricane Nicholas
- Press Release: Federal court orders Selbyville restaurant to pay $305K in back wages, damages, penalties after U.S. Department of Labor finds wage violations
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor recovers $163K for 72 healthcare workers after investigation finds Linden hospital missed payrolls
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor announces annual update to current minimum hourly wage rate for federal contract workers
Department of Education
- Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Announces New Actions to Improve Educational Outcomes for Students In Puerto Rico
Health & Human Services (HHS)
- Press Release: Biden-Harris Administration Announces Record-Breaking 12.2 Million People Are Enrolled in Coverage Through the Health Care Marketplaces
Food & Drug Administration (FDA)
- Press Release: FDA Advances Data, IT Modernization Efforts with New Office of Digital Transformation