US Executive Branch News– February 9, 2021

Stacy A. Swanson

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US Executive Branch Update – February 9, 2021

by: Stacy A. Swanson of Squire Patton Boggs (US) LLP - Capital Thinking Blog

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

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

POTUS’ Schedule*

9:30 a.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT and THE VICE PRESIDENT receive the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

1:45 p.m. EST – The President, The Vice President, and the Secretary of the Treasury meet with business leaders about the critical need for the American Rescue Plan | Oval Office

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

9:30 a.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT joins THE PRESIDENT in receiving the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

12:00 p.m. EST – THE VICE PRESIDENT will ceremonially swear in Denis McDonough as Secretary of Veterans Affairs | Eisenhower Executive Office Building

1:45 p.m. EST – THE PRESIDENT, THE VICE PRESIDENT, and the Secretary of the Treasury will meet with business leaders about the critical need for the American Rescue Plan | Oval Office

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

12:45 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 Monday, February 8, 2021

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

The White House

Readout of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. Call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India
Remarks by President Biden and Vice President Harris During Tour of the State Farm Stadium Vaccination Site in Glendale, Arizona
Transcript: Press Briefing by White House COVID-19 Response Team and Public Health Officials
Statement by NSC Spokesperson Emily Horne on National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan’s Call with Secretary General Natthaphon Narkphanit of the Thai National Security Council
Transcript: Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, February 8, 2021

Department of Defense (DOD)

Article: DOD Leaders Will Address Extremism in the Ranks
Article: USS Ronald Reagan Begins 2nd Round of COVID-19 Vaccinations
Contracts for February 8, 2021

Department of State

Daily Schedule | Tuesday, February 9
February 8: Statement | Nicaragua’s Foreign Agents Law Drives Nicaragua Toward Dictatorship, Silencing Independent Voices
February 8: Statement | US Decision To Reengage with the UN Human Rights Council
February 8: Interview | Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Wolf Blitzer of CNN’s The Situation Room
February 8: Advisory | Notice of Meeting: U.S. Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (Feb. 11)
February 8: Transcript | Department Press Briefing – February 8, 2021

US Mission to the United Nations (UN)

Statement on US Reengagement with the UN Human Rights Council
Remarks at a Briefing on Preparations for COP26 (via VTC)

Department of Justice

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) | Daily Press Releases
Press Release: Doctor Sentenced for Role in Unlawful Distribution of Opioids
Press Release: North Carolina Return Preparer Sentenced to 50 Months in Prison for Multi-Year Tax Fraud Scheme

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

Press Release: Air and Marine Operations, Partners Seize Nearly 2 Tons of Cocaine in Eastern Pacific (Washington, D.C.)
Press Release: Arizona DPS/Yuma Sector Border Patrol Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt Inside of Semi-Truck (Arizona)
Press Release: Border Patrol Agents Seize Cocaine/Meth in Calexico (California)
Press Release: Border Patrol Arrests Convicted Sureño Gang Member (California)
Press Release: $500K Worth of Marijuana Seized in the Rio Grande Valley (Texas)
Press Release: 433 Pounds of Green Cocaine Seized Since October 1 by Cincinnati CBP (Ohio)
Press Release: U.S. Border Patrol and Mobile County Sheriff’s Office Vehicle Stop Snags Bricks of Cocaine (Alabama)
Press Release: Dulles CBP Picks Counterfeit Guitars to the Tune of $158K (Virginia)
Press Release: DHS Announces Final Rule for a More Effective and Efficient H-1B Visa Program
Press Release: USCIS Strengthens Protections to Combat H-1B Abuses
Press Release: New E-Verify.gov Website a User-Friendly Source to Verify Employment Eligibility

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

Press Release: FEMA Supports Vaccine Distribution | COVID-19 Response Update (Washington, D.C.)
Press Release: FEMA Direct Lease Program Seeks Property Management Resources in Lane County (Oregon)
Press Release: FEMA Needs Your Current Contact Information (Mississippi)
Press Release: FEMA Grants are for Disaster-Related Expenses Only (Alabama)

Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR)

Press Release: Key Staff Appointments Announced

Department of Commerce

Press Release: New Timeline of Deadliest California Wildfire Could Guide Lifesaving Research and Action
Press Release: NOAA Satellites Helped Save a Record 421 Lives in 2019

US International Trade Commission (USITC)

Press Release: USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Integrated Circuits and Products Containing the Same
Press Release: USITC Institutes Section 337 Investigation of Certain Wireless Communications Equipment and Components Thereof

Department of Transportation

Statement by DOT Chief of Staff Laura Schiller (re: a member of Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s security detail tested positive for COVID-19)

Department of Labor

Statement by Acting Secretary of Labor Al Stewart on the death of former Secretary of Labor George P. Shultz
Press Release: US Department of Labor launches new monthly series of workshops to provide employment assistance to transitioning military spouses
Press Release: Federal court in Texas sentences former train engineers’ union treasurer to prison, orders $61K restitution following US Labor Department probe
Press Release: Detroit grocer pays $10K in civil money penalties after US Department of Labor finds child labor violations

Food & Drug Administration (FDA)

Press Release: FDA Announces New Resource for Veterinarians and Pet Owners Interested in Clinical Field Studies of Animal Cells, Tissues, and Cell- and Tissue-Based Products

US Government (USG) COVID-19 Webpages