Jennifer Mulhern Granholm and Jennifer Rene Psaki

“ There was an interesting poll that was done in February by Consumer Reports, and they found that 76 percent of Americans think that broadband is as important as electricity and water. Water. I mean, how can we not agree that broadband is infrastructure? And yet, we have been disinvesting in infrastructure as a nation, for decades. In infrastructure, in research and development, and in manufacturing — all of them we have been disinvesting in.
Infrastructure, as you know, is now the smallest share of our economy since World War Two. We are at a 72-year low with respect to manufacturing. ”

“ What do you say to Americans working in the oil and gas industry in California and elsewhere who say that these have been good-paying jobs that have given them access to the middle class?And what, if anything, can the federal government do to ensure that these clean energy jobs, like the ones that you described, are as good as the ones that they’ll be replacing? ”

“ He believes that taking additional steps on background checks, that putting in place an assault weapons ban again are pivotal to keeping our country safe. He strongly supports the background check bills — the two that have passed the House.
It is imperative for any President to walk and chew gum at the same time; to continue to push for, to advocate for, to use the bully pulpit of the Rose Garden to push forward a range of agenda items. And he certainly will continue to do that on putting in place commonsense gun safety measures. ”

“ Today we are announcing another two ser- — two funding opportunities for clean energy technology. One of them is to create next-generation biofuels for airplanes and ships, which are very hard to electrify, and the second is to announce clean energy technology funding opportunity to reduce methane emissions from the coal, oil, and gas industry. And as many of you know, methane is an extremely potent and dangerous greenhouse gas.
But these investments are really just a down payment on what we need to do as a nation, and the American Jobs project will take us the rest of the way. ”

“ As President Biden noted in a proclamation issued on Sunday, we are marking Holocaust Remembrance Day this week. Today, we rededicate ourselves to standing in solidarity with the Jewish people in America, Israel, and around the world, and to remembering the horrors of the Holocaust. An estimated 6 million Jews perished alongside millions of other innocent victims around the world. ”

“ Just like there’s legislation on banning assault weapons that the President supports, there’s legislation on increasing, expanding universal background checks, which he supports. There’s also been legislation — many cycles of Congress — on gun liabil- — holding gun manufacturers to the same liability standards as other industries.So all I’m conveying is he would certainly advocate that — for that, as he did today. ”

“ And we — this is why the American Jobs Plan is very specifically targeting communities in coal and power plant areas, in gas and in natural gas. There are billions of dollars in this bill for the technologies that will reduce CO2 emissions in those — in those industries. ”

“ Look, I think that is perhaps, in some ways, suggesting that just because someone does bad behavior, we shouldn’t hold them accountable unless we know it’s going to immediately change their behavior. And that’s just not how we see foreign policy or how we see our engagement in the world.And, look, I think our focus is on — there’s still an ongoing review — weeks not months, weeks not months — that we are assessing, as it relates to the troubling actions of Russia and this Russian government, where there will be consequences, as the President has conveyed, seen and unseen. ”

“ After what happened in Texas, can anybody really doubt that electricity and the electric grid is part of the foundation of who we are as a nation? And we need to invest in it if we want to make sure power keeps coming to our homes. ”

“ Q Yeah, I mean, is it the President’s belief that you do not have to undergo a background check when you are at a gun show? MS. PSAKI: No, it’s not his belief. He believes that gun — that background checks should be universal. Q Right. But he says, “no background check.” MS. PSAKI: Well, we know what his position is — right? –so let me reiterate that — which is that background checks are something that should be universal. They’re supported by more than 80 percent of the public. He supported legislation, advocated for that, and advocated against loopholes as well. ”

“ We have another member of the President’s Jobs Cabinet joining us today: Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm.
Secretary Granholm is just the second woman to lead the Department of Energy, where she will help America achieve President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. She’ll do this by advancing cutting-edge clean energy technologies, creating millions of good-paying union clean energy jobs, and building an equitable clean energy future. ”

“ We’ve been rolling out efforts to research and development, and deploy clean energy technologies, with an eye toward creating jobs. And if the American Jobs Plan passes, this will be able to be put on steroids. ”

“ So we want to create good-paying jobs all across the country, and there will be millions of them if this is passed. The opportunities — this is why we’ve been having a huge number of discussions with our brothers and sisters in the labor movement, in the building trades, to make sure that we do this in a way that gives their workers opportunity, and it will. ”

“ Today, one third of all North American electric vehicle battery production takes place in Michigan. The state is one of the top five states for clean energy patents, and 126,000 Michiganders were employed in the clean energy sector prior to COVID-19. ”

“ Q Is there a timetable for that review when you — SECRETARY GRANHOLM: We’ll make an announcement — we’ll be making an announcement on that; I’m not ready to say yet. Q And then just — sorry, just changing gears again — the last administration invested heavily in the nation’s nuclear triad — the development of new and improved nuclear weaponry. Is the policy of this administration that a lot of this development falls under your department to continue that R&D — that expensive R&D to modernize the nation’s nuclear arsenal? SECRETARY GRANHOLM: We have to modernize the nation’s nuclear arsenal. ”

“ There’s — there’s a 100-day review that is ongoing, which we plan to share the outcome of with the American people soon, and we’re certainly looking through that review at undertaking — the review is focused, I should say, on undertaking the first-ever, whole-of-government approach to building a resilient, diverse, and secure supply chain to help address this issue for the long term so that we are not just dealing with a short-term emergency. ”

“ Those jobs, in those kinds of technologies, are good-paying jobs. Those are jobs that are going to be for welders and sheet metal workers and all of the trades. And we’re going to, as we put out funding opportunities, ensure that there are project labor agreements that the people who are working in them are paid — under Davis-Bacon — are paid prevailing wage. ”

“ And he also will use the power of his presidency, his voice, his political will to advocate for actions in Congress.He also recognizes that there are incredible roles to be played by many of the gun safety groups and leaders that were here today, who have helped pass laws in states across the country on everything from background checks to red flag laws — efforts that have had a measurable impact in states to reduce incidents of gun violence, of homicide, of suicide as a result of guns. ”

“ Q Given his history as a gun control advocate, is the White House worried that this is going to be an uphill battle to get him confirmed? MS. PSAKI: Well, it’s up to Congress. He’s also somebody who — he has certainly been an advocate for gun safety measures, but he also has 25 years of experience at the ATF. He’s been involved in play- — he’s played a pivotal role in investigations. He is a gun owner himself.So he has a broad swath of qualifications, and certainly we believe he’s somebody who should be seriously considered by Congress. ”

“ It is certainly a step to make that more difficult, to regulate an area of gun production that has not been regulated previously. So it’s something that will have to be worked through — through law enforcement officials around the country, through the Department of Justice. ”

“ Q Despite warnings, anti-transgender bills are an illegal form of sex discrimination. A number of states have enacted into law measures against transgender youth, including a measure the Arkansas legislature enacted into law this week by overriding a veto of the governor. ”

“ Well, let me first say that we fully recognize that this is an issue that is impacting industries across the country, including the auto industry.Earlier this year, the President held a meeting in his office with a bipartisan, bicameral group. He continues to work — he feels there’s opportunity to work with members of both parties on addressing what is a very challenging issue for many industries. ”

“ I mean, we have a Jobs Cabinet now. We have face-to-face and Zoom meetings ongoing with Republicans and Democrats on infrastructure. Should we anticipate a Gun Control Cabinet or meetings with Republicans about this issue? MS. PSAKI: I certainly would anticipate the President will raise this issue in a range of conversations he has with members of Congress. There — this obviously is slightly different, given the role of the Attorney General in measures on gun safety and — as is evidenced by the fact that he was present there today. ”

“ Before President Biden took office, he got a letter from advocates — safety advocates who lost loved ones in truck crashes. Truck crashes are up about 35 percent over the last 10 years. They asked him to support certain provisions — technology — to reduce crashes. Those technologies, including automatic braking systems, speed limiters, were recommended on Tuesday by the National Transportation Safety Board. ”

“ Right?And formula grants are allocated to states based on certain criteria, like the number of miles of an interstate highway or a population in a given urban area. Most of our existing transportation funding flows through formula grants — so with past infrastructure funding bills that have gone through Congress in the — in the last several decades. ”

“ For example, carbon capture, use, and sequestration — I don’t mean to get too technical — but hydrogen deployment and demonstration projects.I’ve been talking with my counterparts around the world; there is a huge appetite for a partnership with America on these next-generation technologies that will reduce CO2 emissions from that kind of baseline power. ”

“ Does the White House have a response to Florida’s lawsuit? MS. PSAKI: We don’t have a direct response to a lawsuit nor a comment on a specific legal action, but I will just reiterate that the CDC guidance is based on data and health and medical guidelines, hence that’s why they put it out and why they regularly update it. Q Well, the President has set forth July 4th as the date he’d like to see Americans who are vaccinated be able to gather in small groups. At the same time, the CDC said last week that there is a low risk for vaccinated Americans who travel. ”

“ Q Will Americans detained in Iran be part of those discussions? MS. PSAKI: Certainly, Americans detained in Iran is an issue that we have raised with partners around the world and those who are having direct discussions with the Iranians. In terms of the focus and content of these discussions, I know they’ll do a readout when they conclude the meetings, likely tomorrow. ”

“ So our nuclear deterrent is important and it is embedded in the values of that stockpile, and we’ll make sure that our people are safe. MS. PSAKI: Kaitlan. Q Thank you so much. I’ve heard you talk about the corporate tax rate and what they want to do with this infrastructure bill. Can this infrastructure bill be successful with a 25 percent corporate tax rate? SECRETARY GRANHOLM: You know, as the President has said, this is a negotiation. And he really does want to hear from Democrats and Republicans about what would be acceptable to get this across the line. ”

“ Q Well, I understand that, but why not — why ca- — why shouldn’t the President be able to communicate with the Attorney General on legal action? MS. PSAKI: He certainly can. I don’t have anything to predict for you on that at this point in time. Q And the question from my colleague is next. How involved is former President Obama and First Lady Obama in the Biden-Harris administration? Is President Biden seeking to bring back the often-bipartisan portrait unveiling events at the White House? ”