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 receives the President’s daily brief | Biden Residence, Wilmington, DE

1:00 p.m. EDT – THE PRESIDENT departs Wilmington, Delaware, en route Camp David

Upcoming White House Visit:

• August 30:  Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

The White House had yet to release the Vice President’s schedule for Friday.

Looking ahead: The Vice President will travel to Singapore and Vietnam this month (dates yet-to-be-announced) to strengthen relationships and expand economic cooperation with two critical Indo-Pacific partners of the United States.

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change.

Recap of Thursday, August 12, 2021

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

• Appointments:  President Biden Appoints Members to U.S. AbilityOne Commission | August 13, 2021

• Fact Sheet:  Biden Administration Takes Steps to Address COVID-⁠19 in Rural America and Build Rural Health Back Better | August 13, 2021

• Remarks by President Biden on How His Build Back Better Agenda Will Lower Prescription Drug Prices

• Fact Sheet:  President Biden Calls on Congress to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

• Remarks by President Biden at Virtual Meeting with Elected Officials to Discuss the Importance of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

• Fact Sheet:  Build Back Better Investments in Care Will Boost Economic Growth and Help Businesses Thrive

• Transcript:  Press Briefing by White House COVID-⁠19 Response Team and Public Health Officials

• Statement:  United States to Host Ninth Summit of the Americas in 2022 (Dec. 9-10)

• Statement of President Joe Biden on the Fourth Anniversary of the Events at Charlottesville, Virginia

Department of Defense (DOD)

• Transcript:  Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing on Afghanistan

• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani

• Article:  DOD Deploys Forces to Protect Kabul Embassy Drawdown

• Article:  China, Russia Pose Strategic Challenges for U.S., Allies, Admiral Says

• Article:  Japan’s State Minister of Defense Visits U.S. Cyber Command

• Article:  Vice Admiral Discusses Potential of AI in Missile Defense Testing, Operations

• Advisory:  Guantanamo Periodic Review Board Media Invitation Announced August 24, 2021

• Contracts for August 12, 2021

Department of State

• Daily Schedule | Friday, August 13

• August 12:  Readout | Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin’s Call with Afghan President Ghani

• August 12:  Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Calls with Foreign Minister Garneau, Foreign Minister Maas, and NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg

• August 12:  Readout | Secretary Blinken Meeting with Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Al-Thani

• August 12:  Readout | Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Meeting with People’s Republic of China Appointed Ambassador Qin Gang

• August 12:  Statement | U.S.-Australia-India-Japan Consultations (the “Quad”) Senior Officials Meeting

• August 12:  Advisory | U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Feltman will Travel to Djibouti, Ethiopia, UAE (Aug. 15-24)

• August 12:  Statement | U.S. Donation of 5.5 Million Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine to CARICOM Countries

• August 12:  Transcript | Department Press Briefing

US Agency for International Development (USAID)

• Press Release:  Administrator Samantha Power at the USAID Global Leadership and Education Advancing Development (Global LEAD)

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

• Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Somalia

Department of Justice

• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases

• Press Release:  Justice Department Announces Expansion of Firearms Technical Assistance Project to Strengthen Community Response to Domestic Violence Incidents Involving Firearms

• Press Release:  San Fernando Valley Man Found Guilty in Terror Plot to Bomb a Rally in Long Beach

• Press Release:  Former DEA Special Agent Sentenced to Over 13 Years in Prison for Corruption-Related Charges

• Press Release:  Utah Man Convicted for Tax Fraud

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)/Customs and Border Protection (CBP)/US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

• Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’ Visit to South Texas

• Speech:  Secretary Mayorkas Delivers Remarks in Brownsville, Texas

• Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Fourth Anniversary of the Events at Charlottesville, Virginia

• Press Release:  CBP Releases July 2021 Operational Update (Washington, D.C.)

• Press Release:  Border Patrol Agents Arrest Two Convicted Sex Offenders (California)

• Press Release:  USCIS Temporarily Extending Validity Period of Form I-693

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

• Press Release:  FEMA Provides $2.6 Million to Montana for COVID-19 Response

• Press Release:  Municipalities Have FEMA Support throughout their Recovery (Puerto Rico)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

• Readout of Ambassador Katherine Tai’s Virtual Meeting with South Korea’s Trade Minister Yeo Han-Koo

Department of Commerce

• Blog:  2020 Census Statistics Highlight Local Population Changes and Nation’s Racial and Ethnic Diversity

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)

• Press Release:  FTC Urges Federal Reserve Board to Require Debit Card Gatekeepers to Compete Fairly

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)

• Press Release:  FFIEC Issues Guidance on Authentication and Access to Financial Institution Services and Systems

US Export-Import Bank (EXIM)

• Press Release:  Biden-Harris Officials, International Business Leaders to Headline EXIM 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, Sept. 21-23

Department of Agriculture (USDA)

• Press Release:  Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of Up To $500 Million in Emergency Rural Health Care Funds Under the American Rescue Plan

Department of Interior (DOI)

• Press Release:  U.S. Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and State of Wyoming Commit to Enhancing Wildlife Corridors

Department of Labor

• Press Release:  Unemployment Insurance Weekly Claims Report

• Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor recovers more than $73K for 256 healthcare workers at Pennsylvania, Maryland facilities following investigation

• Press Release:  Department of Labor announces $5M funding opportunity to improve respect for workers’ rights in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras

• Press Release:  Amid recent trench collapses, U.S. Department of Labor reminds South Dakota employers, workers of excavation hazards

• Press Release:  U.S. Department of Labor obtains consent preliminary injunction restraining a Massachusetts tree service company from retaliating against employees

• Press Release:  United Behavioral Health, United Healthcare Insurance Co. plans to pay $15.6M, take corrective actions after federal, state investigations

Department of Education

• Link to Education Department’s press releases approving state plans to use the American Rescue Plan funds to support K-12 schools and students (South Carolina, Indiana, Alabama, North Dakota, New Jersey, Kentucky)

Health & Human Services (HHS)

• Press Release:  HHS Secretary Becerra to Require COVID-19 Vaccinations for HHS Health Care Workforce

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

• Press Release:  FDA Authorizes Additional COVID-19 Vaccine Dose for Certain Immunocompromised Individuals

• Press Release:  FDA Grants First of its Kind Indication for Chronic Sleep Disorder Treatment