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Dear Maryland Women for Biden Harris,
This probably is the longest News You Can Use so far. But, believe it or not,
it reflects only a tiny bit of what the White House and Campaign have been doing. There is some information contained herein for everyone. So check it out. We want to make sure you are kept up to date!
On March 7, 2024, President Biden delivered his third State of the Union address,* a marquis moment for his Campaign. By all accounts, he was at the top of his game leaving no doubt about his unwavering ability to "finish the job." Speaking for over an hour, the address was full-throated, defiant, energetic and assertive! He highlighted his Administration's accomplishments, previewed the final months of his current Administration, set the scene for what a second term would entail, and made it clear he is ready, willing, and able to lead our nation with four more years in the White House. He emphasized what we all know, Democracy will be on the ballot in November. But, don't just take our word for it. Read and listen to what a few others have said:
Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi
Senator Chris Murphy
Van Jones
Joy Reid
Kate Bedingfield
Dana Bash
Mini Timmaraju
Ashley Allison
Jeff Zeleny
Briahna Knowles (CNN Watch Party)
MDWFBH had several SOTU Watch Parties followed by discussions among participants. Special thanks and shout-outs to our Chapter Lead Director Courtney Finklea Green and all who were our special guests and organizers including MDWFBH Honorary Chair Ann Lewis, Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Carole Brand who provided not just our graphic, but also technical assistance, Lisa Rubinstein Fuller, Diana Edensword Conway, Helen Bearden, LaVerne Poteat Scott, and Molly MKee-Seabrook, Michele Johnson, Lee Whaley, Jessica MariaTaylor, Barbara Brown, Jan Plotczyk, Megan Outten Elaine McNeil, and Crystal Crismond Woodward. Their "watch parties" were a resounding success including the creation of bonding experiences for many. Some photos are at the very bottom of this oh, so very long News You Can Use!
Important ways to stay in touch with us:
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Please stay in touch with us through our LinkTree and on of our social media platforms.
As referenced above, below you will find a great deal of information from the White House as well as the Campaign. Feel free to peruse and click on the links that interest you.
Onward to Victory in November,
Barbara Goldberg Goldman, Aisha Braveboy, and Natali Fani-Gonzalez
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IT'S OFFICIAL
President Biden secured the delegates necessary to become our party’s presumptive nominee! Donald Trump also became the Republicans’ presumptive nominee, making this race officially a contest
between President Biden and Donald Trump.
The campaign held more than 13 press conferences over the past week across key swing states with local elected officials and seniors, all focused on protecting Social Security and Medicare against threats from Trump and MAGA Republicans. The events have taken place in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Milwaukee Wisconsin; Madison, Wisconsin; Lansing, Michigan; Las Vegas, Nevada and Phoenix, Arizona.
The campaign also announced it would hire 350 staffers
and open 100 field offices over the next month.
Last week the Students for Biden-Harris Kicked-Off with Rep. Frost & Lexi Underwood · The Democratic National Committee (democrats.org) launched. As you know, young voters are our future leaders. And, the future is here.
Please share these young voter events with students you know!
When President Biden and Vice President Harris took office, our country faced unprecedented crises - a raging pandemic, economic crisis, climate crisis, and racial injustice. The President and Vice President ran for office on the promise to move quickly to tackle these crises head-on and deliver results for working families. That’s what the Biden-Harris Administration has done. Check out some of their accomplishments here.
On Saturday, Biden-Harris 2024 released the first ad as part of its $30 million post-State of the Union advertising campaign, titled “For You.”
Please watch the ad here.
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A DOSE OF JOE
President Biden hit the stump in Michigan and Wisconsin this week, Team Biden-Harris is setting fundraising records (again) and Donald Trump continues to put on full display how dangerous and devastating another term in the White House for that man would be for the rest of us.
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General Election Is On…For One of Us: Coming off his widely praised State of the Union address,* President Biden has already made campaign stops in key battlegrounds Pennsylvania, Georgia, New Hampshire, Michigan, and Wisconsin – and will be stumping early this week in Arizona and Nevada. Meanwhile, Donald Trump did a few interviews with right-wing outlets, was in court, told CNBC he’d cut Social Security and Medicare benefits if elected, and did one campaign event in Ohio (?) where he promised a “blood bath” if he doesn’t win in November.
CBS News
Biden plans $30 million ad blitz and battleground
state visits as the general election campaign begins
Washington Post
Biden offers advice to a boy with a stutter while
campaigning in Milwaukee
The Detroit News
Biden campaigns in Saginaw as part of a focus on battleground states
CNBC
Biden's campaign takes aim at Trump's stance on
Social Security, Medicare in a new advertisement
The Independent
Biden campaign says Trump ‘wants another
January 6’ after Ohio ‘bloodbath’ prediction
Watch
Campaign communications director Michael Tyler reacting to
Trump’s “blood bath” comments with Jen Psaki earlier today
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Another Month, Another Fundraising Record: Team Biden-Harris announced this morning that it raised more than $53 million in February with a historic $155 million in cash on hand – the highest total amassed by any Democratic candidate in history at this point in the cycle. This comes after raising an eye-popping $10 million in just 24 hours after the President’s State of the Union address. Donald Trump and Republicans are poor, with legal bills piling up. But it’s fine, Lara Trump has a plan.
Washington Post
Biden continues fundraising momentum, with a $53 million February
CNN
Biden team raised $53 million in February, entering the general election with a major cash advantage
President Biden officially clinched the Democratic nomination on Tuesday after a very strong performance in Georgia. The other guy lost 85,000 votes (in a one-person race), in a state decided by 12,000 votes in 2020. The president clinched the nomination faster than any nominee in decades.
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Key Endorsements from the Winning Coalition
As Donald Trump continues to struggle to unite his party since clinching the nomination, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris continue to rack up major endorsements from critical parts of the broad and diverse coalition that sent them to the White House.
Spectrum
Biden lays into Trump, touts investments for Black, Latino, AAPI communities in Atlanta rally
Associated Press
Youth activist groups jointly endorse Biden. They say his achievements matter more than his age
The Hill
PACs to announce $30 million commitment to mobilizing minority voters for Biden
The Hill
15 Groups Representing Young Voters Back Biden
Voto Latino
Endorses Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for Reelection
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Stories and Posts to Uplift
The First Lady and Christina Aguilera with an important message for voters
CNN:
Biden hits battleground states as Trump opts for a seat in court
Black Enterprise:
As Presidential Race Heats Up, Biden Campaign Turns
To Black Media To Tell Its Story
@BidenHQ:
Fox: Our Fox News voter analysis shows us that a large portion
of Nikki Haley voters won't vote for Trump in November.
If even a fraction stay home, vote third party, or split their votes,
Trump loses
Trump proposed cuts to Medicare and Social Security programs
every single year he was in office
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NEWS FROM THE WHITE HOUSE WOMEN'S OFFICE OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
and
THE WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Virtual Briefing on the White House Initiative on
Women’s Health Research
When: Monday, March 18th
Time: 4:00 PM EST
RSVP: Click Here
Please join the Office of Public Engagement for a virtual briefing on the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research. We’ll be joined by Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council, and Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Chair of the White House Initiative on Women’s Health Research.
The President and the Vice President believe that healthcare is a right, not a privilege. The Administration’s actions to protect and expand Americans’ access to quality, affordable healthcare have made a positive difference in Americans’ well-being and wallets. The Administration continues to build on, strengthen, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, and the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—and now more Americans have health insurance than under any other President.
To read the entire fact sheet, click here.
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President Biden’s FY 2025 Budget Advances
Gender Equity and Equality
The President’s FY 2025 Budget includes critical policies for women and families across the country and around the world. It will give families more breathing room; support workers and strengthen the care economy; expand access to high-quality health care and improve health outcomes; prevent and address gender-based violence; and advance gender equality around the world. Here is a look at some highlights:
Read the full release here.
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On Equal Pay Day, the Biden-Harris Administration Announces Actions to Continue Advancing Pay Equity and
Women's Economic Security
On Equal Pay Day, the Administration celebrated how far we have come—and how far we have yet to go—in closing the gender pay gap. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, America has seen an unprecedented—and equitable—economic recovery, building back an economy that is
the strongest in the world.
Read the 2024 equal pay fact sheet here.
Read the full proclamation here.
A Proclamation on National Equal Pay Day, 2024
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Biden-Harris Administration Continues
the Fight for Reproductive Freedom
"We trust women to know what is in their own best interest. And women trust us to fight to protect their most fundamental freedoms. And it’s going to take all of us. It is going to take all of us."
To read Vice President Harris' full remarks, click here.
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White House Hosts Convening with Advocacy Groups to Discuss Importance of Work to
Protect Access to Fertility Services
This month, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein and Assistant and Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the Office of Public Engagement Stephen Benjamin convened a roundtable discussion on the importance of ensuring access to fertility services—including in vitro fertilization (IVF)—in the wake of a devastating Alabama Supreme Court ruling that
has halted access to IVF in much of the state.
Read more here.
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U.N. Commission on the Status of Women
Advancing gender equality globally is the right thing to do – and the smart thing to do. We cannot solve the global challenges of our time
if half the world’s population is left behind.
That’s why, from the very beginning, the President and Vice President committed to advancing gender equity and equality through our domestic and foreign policy, establishing the first-ever White House Gender Policy Council and mandating the development of our first-ever National Strategy
on Gender Equity and Equality.
Read more here.
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Executive Order to Expand Registered Apprenticeships
The President issued an Executive Order on Scaling and Expanding the Use of Registered Apprenticeships in Industries and the Federal Government and Promoting Labor-Management Forums.
Read more here.
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White House Meeting with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein, Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President Dr. Rebecca Lissner, and other senior National Security Council and Gender Policy Council officials met with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict Pramila Patten.
Read more here.
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White House Internship Program Application Period
for Fall Session
The application period for the White House Internship Program for the Fall 2024 session is now open! The application portal will close
Friday, April 5th 2024 at 11:59 pm ET
The White House Internship Program is a public service leadership and development program that provides emerging leaders with an opportunity to gain valuable skills while supporting the work of the White House and furthering the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration. This program provides paid internships across the Executive Office of the President (EOP).
Learn how to apply here.
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~OUR VEEP~
Vice President Harris is traveling all around our nation
to talk with all of us.
She is inspired by our stories, ideas, and questions,
and she thanks us for sharing them with her.
You can text her at Text her at 310-861-2977 to continue the conversation.
To share, click here.
Selected Remarks by Vice President Harris from the
White House Briefing Room
Remarks by Vice President Harris and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar of Ireland During a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Breakfast
"This is a moment where it is incumbent on each of us to decide what kind of country do we want to live in." VP KH
We continue to fight for every woman’s freedom to make decisions about her own body." VP KH
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~A Very Busy Travel Schedule~
Here are just a few of her trips this month
Vice President Kamala Harris traveled on:
Friday, March 22, to San Juan, Puerto Rico to highlight the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting Puerto Rico’s recovery and renewal. During her visit, she highlighted how her and the President’s Investing in America agenda – including the historic American Rescue Plan (ARP), Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – are delivering results and bringing good jobs to the island. This is the Vice President’s first trip to Puerto Rico since being sworn in. She last visited the island as a U.S. Senator in 2017.
Saturday, March 23, to Parkland, FL to continue her leadership in addressing the epidemic of gun violence and keeping communities safe. During her trip, the Vice President visited Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and met with families who lost loved ones during the 2018 mass shooting that took the lives of 14 students and three staff members. She also highlighted the historic gun safety measures that the Biden-Harris Administration has enacted and outlined the work ahead
to reduce gun violence.
Thursday, March 14, traveled to Minnesota and continued her leadership in the fight for reproductive freedom while making a historic visit to a Planned Parenthood health center in Minnesota that provides a range of care including abortion, birth control, and preventative wellness services. During the sixth stop on her nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour, the Vice President walked through the facility with the clinic provider, spoke with staff, and heard about how the state has been impacted by the overturning of Roe. She also underscored the harm caused by extreme abortion bans, called on Congress to restore the protections of Roe, and highlighted how advocates in states like Minnesota have worked to protect reproductive rights.
Our fight for reproductive freedom will continue until women
in every state have access to the care they need. VP KH
Read about and share the Vice President’s visit here.
Friday, March 8, to Phoenix, AZ, her 13th state this year,
to continue her nationwide “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour.
During the fifth stop of her tour, she highlighted how women
across Arizona and throughout America have experienced chaos
and confusion since Roe v. Wade was overturned.
Make no mistake about it, the
Biden-Harris Administration Continues the Fight for Reproductive Freedom
"We trust women to know what is in their own best interest. And women trust us to fight to protect their most fundamental freedoms. And it’s going to take all of us.
It is going to take all of us." VP KH
Watch the Vice President’s full remarks here.
Read the Reproductive Freedom Fact Sheet
Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to Madison. She emphasized the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to expanding registered apprenticeship programs and creating good-paying union jobs. She highlighted the Biden-Harris Administration’s investments in
clean energy infrastructure and announced
a new Executive Order to Expand Registered Apprenticeships.
The visit was a continuation of her leadership as Chair of
the White House Task Force on Worker Organizing and Empowerment.
While in Wisconsin, the Vice President also visited her
childhood home in Madison.
Now more than ever, we must urge eligible voters to register.
Go to vote.gov and make sure your voice is heard!
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Highlighted Media
NPR
Harris visited an abortion clinic, a first for any president or vice president
Associated Press
In a first, Vice President Harris visits Minnesota abortion clinic
to blast ‘immoral’ restrictions
CBS News
Kamala Harris visits Minnesota clinic that performs abortions:
"We are facing a very serious health crisis"
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~HEALTH COMMUNITY UPDATES~
Millions of Americans have been working their whole lives, paying into Social Security and Medicare
With every working day, women want to know that they can count on these programs to be there when they need them. The President’s Budget extends the life of the Medicare Hospital Insurance (HI) Trust Fund permanently and reinforces the President’s commitment to protect Social Security and work with Congress to strengthen the program for the long haul, including by asking the highest-income Americans to pay their fair share—while rejecting all proposals to cut benefits.
For the full White House brief, click here.
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The Unity Agenda's efforts to beat the overdose crisis
On March 13, 2024, the Biden-Harris Administration announced the White House Challenge to Save Lives from Overdose. The Challenge is a nationwide call to action to stakeholders across all sectors to save lives by committing to increase training on and access to lifesaving
opioid overdose reversal medications.
To learn more about the challenge, click here.
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The Biden-Harris Administration today released the President’s Budget for Fiscal Year 2025
Following historic progress made since the President took office—with nearly 15 million jobs created and inflation down two-thirds. The Budget makes critical, targeted investments in the American people that will promote greater prosperity for decades to come at the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that this budget lays out a vision for a nation that invests in all aspects of health, fosters innovation, and supports its most vulnerable. This budget continues our shift from a nation focused on illness to one that promotes wellness,
For more information, click here.
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Last week, senior Biden-Harris Administration officials again met with manufacturers of RSV immunizations including Sanofi
and AstraZeneca and their partners
During the meeting, manufacturers discussed recent studies showing significant decreases in hospitalization rates among
infants who received Nirsevimab.
For the full White House Readout, click here.
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The Biden-Harris Administration has kick-started the adoption of United States Core Data for Interoperability Plus Cancer (USCDI+ Cancer)
Now there is a recommended minimum set of key cancer-related data elements to be included in a person’s electronic health record. This effort will allow healthcare providers to share health information seamlessly, advance equity in treatment, and improve care and outcomes for people facing cancer across the country, especially in rural and underserved areas. Standardizing data across electronic health records also opens new possibilities for faster research results and more effective public health interventions.
To read the full White House brief, click here.
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In an event more than three decades in the making, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lifileucel (Amtagvi),
This is the first cancer treatment that uses immune cells called tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, or TILs. Announced on February 16, the agency’s decision also makes lifileucel the first cellular therapy to be approved for a solid tumor, the skin cancer melanoma.
The agency’s accelerated approval covers the use of lifileucel for people with advanced melanoma that has gotten worse after treatment with certain immunotherapy drugs or targeted therapies.
For more information, click here
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UN Special Representative of Pramila Patten the Secretary General (SRSG) on Sexual Violence in Conflict
On March 7, Secretary General Patten met with Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer, Assistant to the President and Director of the Gender Policy Council Jennifer Klein, and Principal Deputy National Security Advisor to the Vice President Dr. Rebecca Lissner, and other senior National Security Council and Gender Policy Council officials.
To learn more, click here
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A free, 1-hour, online training addresses the mental and physical stressors
A training session for first responders when responding to opioid overdose calls, this session provides evidence-based coping strategies and resources to mitigate the impacts of these stressful events.
Guests must complete the training course in one session.
The course cannot be restarted.
For more information on the course, click here.
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Nominations for the 2024 CMS Health Equity Award are now open
Organizations working to advance health equity, and showing others how to reduce disparities in health care access, quality, and outcomes can apply. Nominations are due March 13. CMS Health Equity Awardees will be recognized at the CMS Health Equity Conference on May 29-30.
To download a nomination form, click here.
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Second CMS Health Equity Conference
to be held May 29-30, 2024.
This free, hybrid conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland, and available for virtual participation. The Call for Proposals will open in January 2024, and conference registration
will open in Spring 2024.
To learn more, click here.
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~ICYMI~
Super Tuesday was SUPER
From coast to coast, including the delegate-rich states of California and Texas, left little doubt that President Biden is our nominee!
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Three and 0: Joe Biden won in Michigan for a third time in four years, winning over 80% of the vote in a high-turnout election for an uncontested primary. Sixteen contests are coming up on Super Tuesday in less than 48 hours which will put the president on the brink of officially locking up his party’s nomination.
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Dr. B Hits the Trail: First Lady Dr. Jill Biden took on Donald Trump at the first Women for Biden-Harris launch event in Atlanta, responding directly to the likely GOP nominee’s comments to Sean Hannity that made clear he would ban abortion nationally and allow states to strip away women’s reproductive rights by banning abortion, attacking access to birth control, and restricting fertility treatments.
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First Lady Jill Biden: “He’s spent a lifetime tearing us down and devaluing our existence. He mocks women's bodies, disrespects our accomplishments, and brags about assault. Now he's bragging about killing Roe v. Wade.”
- Building to Win: Team Biden-Harris continues to amass the resources and build the infrastructure to win this election.
Bloomberg
Biden Amasses Cash Lead as Trump Bleeds Money in 2024 Fight
Politico
Biden campaign names political director, adds new team members
Wired
The Biden Campaign Fills Out Its Digital Team Ahead of Super Tuesday
The HuffPost
Donald Trump Has Deep Ties To Anti-IVF Movement
This morning, a new report from HuffPost revealed Donald Trump’s deep ties to the anti-IVF movement, including how Trump and his administration “praised, appointed and worked with some of the nation’s most extreme thought leaders” who believe IVF should be banned.
As Donald Trump doubles down on his promise to slash Social Security and Medicare local leaders and seniors in battleground states across the country are calling to stop his cuts by reelecting President Biden, who has vowed to protect these essential programs. More than 60 million seniors in the United States rely on Social Security and Medicare.
The Biden-Harris campaign released the following statement in response to every single Republican in the Arizona state legislature voting against efforts to protect access to contraception. Trump’s allies have blocked the Arizona Right to Contraception Act just days after Republican Senate Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli argued that women should instead “Put [aspirin] between your knees.”
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Stories and Posts to Lift
The Hill
Biden is trying to fix Trump’s broken immigration system
AP
Jill Biden casts Donald Trump as a threat to women as she opens a tour of battleground states
@ThirdWayKessler
The S&P 500 hit another all-time high today and is now up 33.7% from the day Donald Trump left office. @POTUS #Bidenomics
@JoeBiden
Donald, man. Check the tape.
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~MDWFBH SOTU WATCH PARTIES~
Below please see just a few of our Watch Party Photos.
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