United States

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day's press releases.

POTUS' Schedule*

3:15 p.m. EST - THE PRESIDENT pardons the National Thanksgiving Turkey | Rose Garden

6:20 p.m. EST - THE PRESIDENT departs the White House en route Wilmington, Delaware

7:15 p.m. EST - THE PRESIDENT arrives in Wilmington, Delaware

VPOTUS' Schedule*

12:50 p.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will depart Washington, D.C., en route Columbus, Ohio

2:50 p.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will tour Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 189 and meet apprentices with Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh

3:20 p.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will deliver remarks on how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal will benefit Ohioans; Secretary Walsh will also deliver remarks

5:30 p.m. EST - THE VICE PRESIDENT will depart Ohio en route Washington, D.C.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

1:00 p.m. EST - Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | 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 Thursday, November 18, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

North American Leaders' Summit (NALS)

Joint Leaders' Statement: Building Back Better Together: A Secure, Prosperous North America
Fact Sheet: Key Deliverables for the 2021 North American Leaders' Summit
Remarks by President Biden, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada, and President López Obrador of Mexico Before North American Leaders' Summit
Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada Before Bilateral Meeting
Readout of President Biden's Meeting with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada
Remarks by President Biden and President López Obrador of Mexico Before Bilateral Meeting
Readout of President Biden's Meeting with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador of Mexico
Transcript: Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials Previewing the North American Leaders' Summit (NALS)

Other Developments

Statement of President Joe Biden on Pfizer's COVID-?19 Antiviral Treatment
Bills Signed into Law:
- S. 921, the "Jaime Zapata and Victor Avila Federal Officers and Employees Protection Act," which grants the United States extraterritorial jurisdiction over certain crimes committed against a Federal officer or employee serving abroad;
- S. 1502, the "Confidentiality Opportunities for Peer Support Counseling Act" or the "COPS Counseling Act," which prohibits Federal law enforcement officers from disclosing the contents of peer support communications; and requires the Department of Justice to develop a report on best practices and professional standards for peer support counseling programs for first responder agencies; and
- S. 1511, the "Protecting America's First Responders Act of 2021," which expands eligibility requirements and increases certain benefits provided under the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Program administered by the Department of Justice.
Remarks by President Biden at Signing of Bills that Extend Critical Support to our Law Enforcement and First Responders
Readout of White House Meeting on American Rescue Plan Resources Addressing Home Heating Costs
Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Deploys American Rescue Plan Funds to Protect Americans from Rising Home Heating Costs; Calls on Utility Companies to Prevent Shut Offs This Winter
Fact Sheet: President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Advances Economic and Public Health Opportunities for Tribal Communities
Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on Deputy National Security Advisor Anne Neuberger's Travel to Japan
Executive Order on the Termination of Emergency With Respect To the Situation in Burundi
Message to Congress on the Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Situation in Burundi
Executive Order on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers Under Service Contracts
Fact Sheet: President Biden Signs Executive Order To Ensure Quality Jobs For Service Workers On Federal Contracts
Appointments: President Biden Announces Key Regional Appointments for USDA, SBA, EPA, and HHS
Nominations Sent to the Senate
Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, November 18, 2021

Department of Defense (DOD)

Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's Meeting with Ukraine's Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov
Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Welcoming Ukrainian Minister of Defense Oleksii Reznikov to the Pentagon
Article: Austin | U.S. Will Work With Ukraine, Allies to Counter Russian Aggression
Readout of Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl Virtual Meeting with Alice Guitton, Director General for International Relations and Strategy, French Ministry of the Armed Forces
Press Release: DoD Announces Chair for the Defense Policy Board
Article: Defense Innovation Unit Publishes 'Responsible AI Guidelines'
Press Release: DoD's Office of Acquisition and Sustainment Announces 2021 Defense Acquisition Workforce Award Winners
Publication: COVID-19 Travel Restrictions Installation Status Update, November 18, 2021
Contracts for November 18, 2021

Department of State

Daily Schedule | Friday, November 19

Africa

November 18: Readout | Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Nigerian President Buhari
November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken Remarks at the Signing Ceremony for $2.1 Billion Development Assistance Agreement with Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama
November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama at a Joint Press Availability | Abuja, Nigeria
November 18: Fact Sheet | The United States and Nigeria: Strategic Partners
November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken to Mission Kenya Staff | Nairobi, Kenya
November 18: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at an Ocean Plastics Event | Nairobi, Kenya
November 18: Interview | Secretary Antony J. Blinken with Linus Kaikai of Citizen TV | Nairobi, Kenya
November 18: Statement | Termination of Burundi Sanctions Program
November 18: Advisory | U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Feltman Visits Ethiopia

Other Department Developments

November 18: Readout | Deputy Secretary Sherman's Meeting with Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Mori
November 18: Statement | Joint Statement on the 12th U.S.-Japan Policy Cooperation Dialogue on the Internet Economy
November 18: Sanctions | Designation of Iranian Cyber Actors for Attempting to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
November 18: Statement | G7 Foreign Ministers' Statement on Belarus
November 18: Statement | Treatment of Former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili
November 18: Statement | Joint Statement on the Meeting of the E3 + United States with the Gulf Cooperation Council
November 18: Statement | Oman National Day
November 18: Statement | Latvia National Day

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

Readout: Administrator Power's Trip to Moldova

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

Readout of Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield's Meeting with Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh
Press Statement from the UN Security Council on Yemen
Explanation of Position on Agenda Item 83: Crimes Against Humanity
Remarks at a Counterterrorism Committee and ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee Joint Briefing on Countering the Financing of Terrorism

Department of the Treasury

Statement by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the Deficit Impacts of the Build Back Better Act
Sanctions: Treasury Sanctions Senior Houthi Military Officer Overseeing Group's Seizure of Opposition Property
Sanctions: Treasury Sanctions Iran Cyber Actors for Attempting to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Press Release: Termination of Burundi Sanctions Program
Sanctions List Updates: Termination of Emergency With Respect to Burundi; Foreign Interference in U.S. Election Designations and Designation Update; Yemen-related Designation and Designations Updates

Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC)

Press Release: SEC Proposes Updates to Electronic Recordkeeping Requirements
Press Release: SEC Proposes Rule to Provide Transparency in the Securities Lending Market
Press Release: SEC Announces Enforcement Results for FY 2021
Press Release: SEC Charges Promoter with Conducting Cryptocurrency Investment Scams

Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
Speech: Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke Delivers Remarks at Dillard University's 10th Annual Justice Revius O. Ortique Jr. Lecture on Law and Society
Press Release: Two Iranian Nationals Charged for Cyber-Enabled Disinformation and Threat Campaign Designed to Influence the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
Press Release: Four Executives Plead Guilty to Fraud Scheme that Caused Over $4.5 Million in Losses to the Small Business Administration
Press Release: Justice Department Settles with Donut Shop Franchise to Resolve Immigration-Related Discrimination Claims
Press Release: United States Settles Clean Water Act Claims Against Fishing Companies, Manager and Vessel Chief Engineer for Violations in American Samoa
Press Release: Managers of New York Fish Dealer Plead Guilty to Fishing Fraud Conspiracy
Press Release: Two Aryan Circle Gang Leaders Convicted on Racketeering Charges
Press Release: Justice Department Announces $139 Million for Law Enforcement Hiring to Advance Community Policing
Press Release: Former Police Officer Found Guilty of Violating an Arrestee's Civil Rights by Using Excessive Force
Press Release: Georgia Supervisory Correctional Officer Indicted on Obstruction Offenses Related to Assault on Inmate
Press Release: Nevada Vacuum Distributor and Salesman Both Convicted by Jury in Conspiracy to Defraud the IRS

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Press Release: Launch of Voluntary Chemical Security Program: ChemLock
Press Release: Enduring Security Framework Releases Part II of Security Guidance for 5G Cloud Infrastructures
Readout of CBP Acting Commissioner's Visit to Panama
Press Release: Calexico CBP Officers Seize Close to Half a Ton of Methamphetamine (California)
Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol and law enforcement partners arrest over 30 individuals inside a stash house (Texas)
Press Release: Narcotics smuggler flees from Border Patrol, crashes into civilian vehicle injuring two (Texas)
Press Release: SENTRI Inspection Leads CBP to Interception of 47 Live Roosters/Hens at Laredo Port of Entry (Texas)
Press Release: Laredo Sector Border Patrol proudly presents the November Youth of the Month Honorees (Texas)
Press Release: Baltimore CBP Officers Seize 1,000 Counterfeit and Potentially Dangerous Solar Panels from China (Maryland)

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Press Release: FEMA Region 4 Announces New Youth Preparedness Council Members
Press Release: FEMA and KIRO-AM Seattle to Unveil New Emergency Broadcast Studio (Washington State)
Press Release: Help is Still Available After Disaster Recovery Centers Close (Pennsylvania)
Press Release: What's Holding up Your Disaster Assistance? Call the FEMA Helpline and Find Out (Louisiana)
Press Release: NJ Storm Survivors | FEMA Registration Deadline Approaching (New Jersey)

Department of Commerce

Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo's Official Visit to Malaysia
Joint Statement by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and Malaysian Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Mohamed Azmin Ali
Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo's Meeting with Malaysia's Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Annuar bin Musa
Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo's Meeting with Malaysia's Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry, Y.B. Dato' Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali
Readout of Secretary Gina M. Raimondo's Visit with Malaysia Prime Minister Dato' Sri Ismail Sabri bin Yaakob
Press Release: The Minority Business Development Agency is Permanently Authorized in Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal
Press Release: Department of Commerce's NTIA Awards First Grants to Tribal Groups Seeking to Expand Broadband
Blog: Native Americans Play Critical Role in NOAA Coastal Projects

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

Press Release: FTC to Expand Criminal Referral Program to Stop and Deter Corporate Crime

Federal Communications Commission (FCC)

Press Release: FCC Seeks Comment on the New Affordable Connectivity Program
Press Release: FCC Grants Market Access for Kinéis Low-Earth Orbit Satellites
Press Release: FCC Proposes Enhanced Competition Incentive Program
Press Release: FCC Approves Text-to-988 Access to Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Press Release: FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr Announces Telehealth Roundtable

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

Press Release: EXIM Announces New Business Development and Outreach Division

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

Press Release: USDA Announces Additional Farm Service Agency and Rural Development State Directors
Press Release: USDA Invests $86 Million to Improve Equitable Access to Jobs, Business Opportunities, Education, Health Care and Housing for Rural People

Department of Interior (DOI)

Press Release: Secretary Haaland, Massachusetts Leaders Celebrate Groundbreaking of Nation's First Commercial Offshore Wind Project in Federal Waters

Department of Transportation

Press Release: USDOT Releases State by State Fact Sheets Highlighting Benefits of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Department of Labor

Press Release: Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report
Press Release: U.S. Secretary Walsh, Swiss President Parmelin sign memorandum of understanding to expand Registered Apprenticeship programs in the United States
Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor orders Houston crane company to pay nearly $24K to worker who refused to violate federal law
Press Release: Administrative law judge orders New Jersey federal contractor to pay $549K in back wages to 46 workers after U.S. Department of Labor finds wage violations
Press Release: Investigation of Orem bakery, restaurant and grocer recovers $32K in overtime back wages for 8 workers; finds minor doing hazardous work
Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor finds federal wage violations, recovers more than $128K in back wages for employees of Vermont insulation, roofing contractor
Press Release: U.S. Department of Labor recovers $228K for 35 workers of Maxton contractor that failed to meet federal contract's wage requirements

Department of Education

Press Release: Secretary Cardona, Secretary Walsh, Swiss President Parmelin Sign Memorandum of Understanding to Expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs in the United States
Press Release: U.S. Department of Education Approves Puerto Rico's Plan for Use of American Rescue Plan Funds to Support K-12 Schools and Students, Distributes Remaining $990 Million to Puerto Rico
Press Release: U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights Solicits Public Input on Civil Rights Data Collection for 2021-22 School Year

Health & Human Services (HHS)

Press Release: Biden Administration Secures 10 Million Courses of Pfizer's COVID-19 Oral Antiviral Medicine as Additional Tool to Reduce Hospitalizations and Save Lives
Press Release: HHS Takes Action to Prevent Discrimination and Strengthen Civil Rights
Press Release: HHS Extends Postpartum Coverage in Virginia for Nearly 6,000 People
Statement from Secretary Xavier Becerra on National Rural Health Day

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Press Release: FDA Expands Eligibility for COVID-19 Vaccine Boosters | November 19, 2021

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.

US Executive Branch Update – November 19, 2021

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