Jennifer Rene Psaki

“ Today, the White House convened leaders from across the administration and is taking coordinated steps to announce a set of bold actions that will catalyze offshore wind energy and create good-paying union jobs. The President recognizes that a thriving offshore wind industry will drive new jobs and economic opportunity up and down the Atlantic Coast, in the Gulf of Mexico, and in Pacific waters. ”

“ We condemn this abhorrent violence against the Burmese people. The Burm- — the Burmese junta continues to use lethal force against its own people.
Last week’s killing of children is just the most recent example of the horrific nature of the violence perpetrated by the military regime. We continue to make clear that we will impose costs on the military regime for the deadly violence against peaceful protestors and the suppression of human rights.
Today, USTR announced the suspension of all U.S. engagement with Burma under the 2013 Trade and Investment Framework Agreement, effective immediately. ”

“ They made very clear that they’re urging Americans to continue to take action to prevent a fourth surge, including nonessential travel. Is the warning against nonessential travel something that the White House is taking into consideration with regard to upcoming travel by the President and Vice President, both for business and for personal reasons? ”

“ The Department of Interior — Interior, Energy, and Commerce announced a shared goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in the United States by 2030, while protecting biodiversity and protecting ocean co-use. ”

“ And that issue will touch many agencies as verification is an issue that will potentially touch many sectors of society, as you have certainly alluded to. That’s guidance we’ll provide.We expect — as Andy Slavitt, I think, alluded to — that a determination or development of a vaccine passport, or whatever you want to call it, will be driven by the private sector. Ours will more be focused on guidelines that can be used as a basis. ”

“ We, of course, continue to work with our allies and partners and like-minded institutions as we condemn the actions of the military, call for the immediate restoration of democracy, and hold those who seize power accountable. ”

“ Well, the White House and the President will leave the mechanics of bill passing to Leader Schumer and other leaders in Congress. Our focus is on proposing an agenda — an ambitious agenda to invest in infrastructure, to help caregivers across the country, to ensure that we are doing more to help Americans get through this challenging period of time.Go ahead. ”

“ Q And what does the White House say to moderates who might be concerned that hiking the corporate tax rate to, say, 28 percent will be a drag on growth? MS. PSAKI: We haven’t seen evidence in that from economists, but if they have alternative proposals to how to — for how to pay for investing in our nation’s infrastructure, rebuilding our roads and our railways, and putting Americans back to work, we’re happy to hear it. Q And then finally, on the vaccine, Andy Slavitt talked about the idea of a “vaccine passport” in the COVID briefing this morning. ”

“ Meeting this target will trigger more than $12 billion per year in capital investment in projects on both U.S. coasts, create tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs with more than 44,000 workers employed in offshore wind by 2030, and nearly 33,000 additional jobs in communities supported by offshore wind activity. ”

“ You know, I can convey that the President wants to nominate people who have — who are qualified, who have a breadth of experience, who bring perspective to these roles. And obviously he seeks to meet his own bars of diversity when he’s nominating any individuals to serve in his administration. But we’ll look forward to discussing further at the point when we’re ready to announce nominees.Go ahead.
Q Yeah, if I could just quickly follow up on Jeff’s question. MS. PSAKI: Sure. Q Is it the White House position that the CDC travel guidelines don’t apply if you have a private plane? ”

“ Like are you trying to find wrongdo- — wrongdoers and punish them in some way or — MS. PSAKI: I think the focus is on ensuring that our policies, moving forward — that policies that are not meeting that bar, that are still in place, are changed, and that we institute this as central to how we approach policymaking in our agencies across government, moving forward. Q Okay. And one more: Do you have an update on whether the Vice President plans to travel to Central America or to the border as part of her looking into the root causes of the immigration problem? ”

“ Sometimes there are community groups, there are religious organizations, there are individuals who have been sponsor families in the past. Again, it doesn’t mean that these children stay in the country ”

“ So that is where our focus is. The President supports that piece of legislation. And we’re hopeful that he will be able to — he will receive a landmark reform bill on his desk.
Q So will the commission still be established in his first 100 days in office? MS. PSAKI: I don’t have any update on it other than to convey that this bill is an opportunity to put in place a number of the actions that — that he, that many in the advocacy community feel are imperative at this point in our country’s history. ”

“ But we, of course, are monitoring as an administration. Q Less wonky. Do you have any updates on the White House’s thinking about sanctions against Myanmar and reaction to the latest deaths and killings there? MS. PSAKI: Sure. Let me — let me give you a reaction and also — because we haven’t talked about this that much in here recently — an update on some of our recent actions.We’re deeply concerned by the recent escalation of violence against peaceful protestors in Burma. ”

“ And a lot of it is through local organizations and community groups as well.Go ahead.
Q Thanks, Jen. On Georgia’s new laws restricting voting, President Biden called them, last week, the — I think the “most pernicious thing.” Does the White House believe, now that the laws have been signed, that companies or individual consumers should boycott Georgia or Georgia businesses? And what should people do who don’t have a voting Congress to vote on these voting laws? MS. PSAKI: The people of Georgia? Q The people of Georgia, people across the country. MS. PSAKI: They should elect new leaders. ”

“ They can take steps like any — any individual can take as an American citizen to have their voice heard and exercise their — their democratic right. Q But does he believe that’ll — that people should boycott? ”