Good afternoon. President elect biden and i just met with some of our nations business and union leaders. Together they represent millions of workers across our country. And some of americas leading technology, auto and retail companies. We had an important conversation about the impact that this pandemic has had on workers. Especially essential workers, frontline workers, who have risked their own health and the health of their families and many whom have given their own lives to keep us safe and keep our economy running. And we all know that this pandemic and this recession have hit communities of color particularly hard. Black americans and latinos are threetimes as likely to contract covid as others and more likely to die. Native americans are more than four times as likely to be hospitalized as others. And last month, the Unemployment Rate for black americans was almost twice the rate of others. And we have also had a conversation about the impact this pandemic has had on our economy as a whole, from the fortune 500 to the Small Businesses that so many communities rely on. Over the past few months, on the campaign trail, the president elect and i saw that impact firsthand. In state after state we met with workers who shared their struggles and told us about their pain. Essential workers who have had to stay on the job, even as they worry about their familys familys well being and their own. Small Business Owners who are dipping into their own savings to make payroll and keep their doors open. And many others. Who have had to close their doors and fear never reopening at all. Their stories have stayed with us. And the president elect and i are focused on building our country back better. For them and all americans. And as i said the night we won this election, now is when the real work begins. The necessary work. The good work. Of getting this virus under control, saving lives, and beating this pandemic. And opening our economy responsibly while we wild rebuilding it so it works for working people. And we will do it by protecting the health and safety of our workers. And creating millions of goodpaying union jobs from auto and construction jobs to Domestic Workers and care giving jobs, to service and hospitality jobs. The road ahead, it will not be easy, but the president elect and i are hitting the ground running. Because we all know the challenges facing America Today are great. The American People deserve no less. And we dont have a moment to waste. And now it is my incredible and great honor to introduce our residentelect, joe biden. President elect biden thank you very much. Good afternoon. Vice president harris and i as she mentioned just met with a group of americas top Business Leaders and labor leaders and i must tell you, it reinforced what i thought from the beginning. Were ready to come together. The community was astounding. I want to go back and talk about the people who actually participated in that. I want to list all the people so you know who we spoke with. Number one, there was mary vera, c. E. O. Of general mor tores. The c. E. O. Of target, mr. Nudell, c. E. O. Of microsoft. Rory gamble, president of the u. A. W. , the president of the sciu, the president of ufcw. The president of afscme and the president of gap. The president of the aflcio. It was really encouraging, quite frankly to get people, business and labor together, agreing on the way forward which im convinced the American People will be willing to do when they hear what we have in mind. Im pleased it all came together around the same table to advance areas of Common Ground and we agreed were going to continue these conversations. They represent very different perspectives but im convince wed can all come together around the same table to advance areas of Common Ground, which are really, i wish you could have all heard the conversation. It was really encouraging. Thats what we are ready to discuss today. We all agree we want to get the economy back on track. We need our workers to be back on the job. By getting the virus under control. Were going in a very dark winter, thins are going to get much tougher before they get easier. That requires spare nothing effort to fight covid so we can open our businesses safely, resume our lives an put this pandemic behind us. Its going to be difficult but it can be done. And they all agreed, that means rallying the country behind a National Strategy with Robust Public Health measures like mandatory masking, widely available testing with rapid results, scaled up production of lifesaving treatments and therapeutics and safe, equitable and free distribution of the vaccine. Its great news that moderna and pfizer have each come up with vaccines that are in excess of 90 effectiveness and getting a vaccine and a vaccination, though, are two different things. Everyone on our call today, in our zoom today, agreed the sooner we have access to the administrations distribution plan, the sooner this transition would be smoothly will smoothly move forward. As we battle covid we have to make sure businesses and workers have the tool, the resources, the National Guidance and health and Safety Standards to operate safely. We can do that. We can bring democrats an republicans together. Work with business and labor, to deliver those necessary resources. And for millions of americans who have lost hours and wages, or have lost their jobs, wull all agree on our call that we can deliver immediate relief and it need be done quickly. Affordable health care for millions of people who have lost it or are in danger of losing it. Child care, sick leave, family leave so workers dont have to choose between work and family. Corporate america agreed on this today. We need support of small to support Small Businesses and entrepreneurs that are the backben of our communs but who are teetering on the edge. And we all agreed on the urgent need for funding for states and localities to keep frontline workers and essential workers on the job. Vital Public Services running Law Enforcement offices, educators, First Responders. Like we did the recovery act of 2009. Saving literally millions of jobs. Theres a reason why the federal government is able to run a deficit. Because the states must, must balance their budgets. And theyre in real trouble. Youre going to see hundreds of thousands of police officers, firefighters, First Responders, Mental Health clinics, youre going to see them going out of business. Right now congress should come together and pass a covid relief package like the heroes act that the house passed six months ago. Once we shut down the virus and deliver Economic Relief to workers an businesses, then we can start to build back better than before. We talked about how we have an opportunity to come out of this stronger, more resilient than we were when we went in. I wish you could have heard Corporate Leaders and major labor leaders saying singing from the same himal here. Throughout the campaign i laid out my build back better plan, we laid out our plan, that an independent analysis put out by moodys, a respected wall street firm, projected would create 18. 6 million jobs. We can also, we talked about the need to own the electric vehicle market. We talked about climate a lot. Building 550,000 charging stations. Cree aing over a million goodpaying union jobs here at home. The need for federal government to invest more in clean energy research. You know, its based on a simple premise. Its time to reward work, not just wealth in america. Were going to have a fair tax structure that make shures that the wealthiest among us and corporations pay their fair share. Our plan will create millions of goodpaying union jobs in manufacturing, building vehicles, products, technologies that were going to need for the future to compete with the rest of the world. From autos to stockpiles were going to buy american. No government contract will be given to companies that dont make their products here in america. To secure our position as a Global Leader in research and development were going to invest 300 billion in the most critical, competitive new industries and technologies, creating three million good paying jobs. Corporate American Technology friends like microsoft on the call they all agreed. We can make sure our future is made here in america. And thats good for business and its good for American Workers. We can also modernize infrastructure. Roads, bridges, ports. 1. 5 million new Affordable Housing units. High Speed Broadband we talked about. For every american household. Which is more important than ever for remote learn, remote working, telemedicine in the 21st century. Building the Digital Infrastructure to help businesses, health care workers, First Responders and students. 100 billion to rebuild our crumbling schools. They talked about the need, the Business Community talked about the need to invest in hbcus an ommunity colleges. Were retrofitting four million Old Buildings and making them like new. Weatherizing homes, building Climate Resilience in cities and towns. These will specifically target communs of color so we can break the cycle where in good times they lag and in bad types they get hit first and hardest and recovery is the toughest to bounce back. These are the kinds of investments that are going to strengthen our economy and competitiveness, create millions of jobs, union jobs, and in doing so, respect the dignity of work and empower the voice of workers. Youve heard me say it before, when my dad lost his job in scranton, moved to wilmington and got a good job. He said a job is about more than a paycheck. Its about dignity, respect, place in the community. Its about being able to look your kid in the eye and say, everything is going to be ok. When we build back better, well do so with higher wages, including a 15 minimum wage nationwide. Better benefits. Stronger collective bargaining rights. That you can raise a family on. Thats how we build back the middle class better than ever. Thats how we make sure workers are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. I can go on, as you can tell i was very encouraged by our conversation. But the point is this. Theres so much we can do. The only way we do any of this is if we work together. I know we can do this. For example, on the call, i made it clear to Corporate Leaders, i said, i want you to know im a union guy. Unions will have increased power. They nodded, they understand. Its not antibusiness. Its about economic growth, creating goodpaying jobs. 11 years ago when barack and i took office in the great recession, and implemented the recovery act that saved us from another great depression, we didnt see a map in red and blue states. They was United States of america. We didnt care whether the city voted for us or against us. The state voted for us or against us. We work with everyone. And were going to going to recover and rebuild together as one nation. We can do this again. Refusal of democrats an republicans to cooperate with one another is not due to some Mysterious Force beyond our control. Its a conscious decision. Its a choice that we make. If we can decide not to cooperate, then we can decide to cooperate. I believe that this is in part a mandate from the American People. Part of the mandate they gave us. They want us to cooperate. They want us to deliver results. And the choice kamala and i will make is that were going to do that. Thats why im pleased were able to bring together business and labor leaders to make the choice jointly with us. Lets get to work. As ive said many times, thank you,my god bless you and may god protect our troops. I understand im going to take some questions. Egan, fire away. Thank you, president elect biden, Vice President elect harris. I want to start with a question about your pandemic planning and a question about your economic plan. You spoke about the need to access the outgoing administrations Covid Vaccine distribution plans. What do you see as the biggest threat to your transition given president trumps unprecedented attempt to obstruct an delay a smooth transfer of power . President elect biden. More people may die if we dont coordinate. Look, as my chief of staff, ron klain would say who handled ebola, a vaccine is important. Its of little use until youre vaccinated. So how do we get the vaccine, how do we get over 00 million americans vaccinated . Whats the game plan . Its a huge, huge, huge undertaking. To get it done for our to get it done. Prioritize those greatest in need and work through it, also cooperate with the World Health Organization and the rest of the world in dealing with this. They say they have this Warp Speed Program that not only dealt with getting vaccines but also how to distribute this. If we have to wait until january 20 to start that planning, i puts us behind over a month, month and a half. So its important that it be done at the and that there be coordination. Now. Now or as rapidly as we can get that done. On the economy, the Vice President elect talked about having an economy that works for working people. One thing i didnt hear you talk specifically about is canceling student loan debt. Does student loan forgiveness figure in your plan . Would you take executive action to achieve it . President elect biden it does figure into my plan. The legislation passed by the Democratic House calls for immediate 10,000 forgiveness of student loan. Its Holding People up, theyre having to decide between paying Student Loans and paying rent. It should be done immediately. In addition to that, as you know, i think everything from Community College straight through to doubling pell grants to making sure we have access to Free Education for anyone making under 125,000 for four years of college, and theres a program that exists now under the law that forgives Student Loans for being able to engage in public service. Im going to institute a fundamental change in that so its available to everyone that is engaged. Its not being very welling mored right now. Im going to do all those things. Thank you. Reporter thank you, mr. President elect. You spoke of some of the dangers of the president s continued stonewalling of the transition but it doesnt appear the president is going to come around any time soon and admit defeat. What are you going to do . What options do you have to ensure youre ready to go on day one . President elect biden deal with every individual organization in the country from business and labor, republicans and democrat, to try to pull together a serious and consistent plan so were ready on day one. Everything from staffing to ultimately naming cabinet members to moving along on coordinating with business and labor. The covid attack, how were going to attack covid, and so it would make it a lot easier the president were to participate. We have a number of republicans suggesting that the good news here is my colleague is still on the intelligence committee. She gets the intelligence briefings. I dont anymore. So that is but theres a number of republicans calling for that i am hopeful that the be mildly more enlightened before we get to january 20. Reporter what is your message to republicans who are backing up the president s refusal to concede . You clearly need to work with them going forward. President elect biden my message is, i will work with you. I understand a lot of your reluctance because of the way the president operates. But ive been in contact with and will be in contact with more of them as we move along. And if it has to wait until january 20 to get actually become operational, thats a shame but it may be thats the only way to get it done. Thank you very much. Reporter thank you very much, mr. President elect. I want to piggyback off of that. I want to get your thoughts on the president s tweet over the weekend where he first seemed to acknowledge that you won, then he said he wont condition seed, then he said i won. How do you interpret that . And at the end of the day do you want him to concede . President elect biden i interpret that as trumpism, no change, his modus operandi, i think the pressure will continue. Look, im having a lot of meetings with World Leaders on the telephone. I cant get into negotiating with them about things that will be done but theyre calling with some degree of enthusiasm. Everyone from the holy father, the prime ministers across the globe. And so were moving along knowing what the outcome will be. As i said earlier, i probably shouldnt repeat it, but i find embarrassing for the country than debilitating for my ability to get started. Reporter secondly, i want to lol follow up with you on the vaccine. If the f. D. A. Gives emergency authorization to the pfizer or Moderna Vaccine in the coming week, will you get vaccinated and if youre hesitated why should any american have confidence in the vaccine . President elect biden first of all well see if that comes forward. And secondly, its important that people who are in the greatest need get it. I wnt hesitate to get the ccine but i also want to set the example. I wouldnt hesitate to get the vaccine if dr. Fauci and the two organization, moderna or pfizer, who have been extremely responsible, conclude that it is afe and itll be done. The only reason people question the vaccine now is because of donald trumpful thats the reason people are questioning vaccine. Because of all the thing he is says, doesnt say, is it truthful, not truthful, the exaggerations. I think were on a clear path now. Were on a clear path with the International Community and National Leaders in the scientific communities have focused on these two vaccines. They appear to be ready for primetime, ready to be used. And if that continues on, i would take the vaccine. Reporter thank you. Reporter thank you, mr. President elect. You have been urging the American Public to continue practicing social distancing and wearing a mask but with cases skyrocketing across the country, do you think that more governors should be closing nonessential businesses and reinstating stay at home orders . President elect biden it depends on the state. What i failed to mention earlier is the the enormous respect i have for republican, conservative republican governors who stepped up and issued mandates for wearing masks. In north dakota, the idea, one of the leaders in this area has been the republican governor, and a republican governor in ohio. In addition to the folks that have already been doing it like the governor of michigan. The president s now, existing, remaining advisor on covid is saying they should resist, what the hell is the matter with these guys . What is the matter with them . Recyst . Every major individual of any consequence in the health field is saying we can save 100,000 lives just between now and january 21 by wearing masks. Its going to take a while for the vaccine to be able to be available, distributed and get to people. Were talking about 350,000 to 400,000 people dying. What are they doing . Its totally irresponsible. Irresponsible. So i compliment the governors who stepped forward, who have been stepping forward. But also the republican governors who stepped forward. I left out the governor of utah. Very conservative state. The governor of north dakota. And all the democratic governors have been doing it all along. Ask a its i just retorical question. Do you guys understand this . Does anybody understand why a governor would turn this into a political statement . Its about patriotism. Its about being patriotic. Its about saving lives. For real. Im this is not hyperbole. Its about being patriotic. I think were seeing more and more as this godawful virus continues to spread, almost unabated, that we that governors are stepping up. Reporter following up on that, especially with many states reporting new highs in terms of the daily number of cases and a lot of Public Health officials sounding the alarm over the holidays, would you what is your message to people who are considering, for example, getting together with their families and others for thanksgiving . Would you urge people to reconsider their plans . President elect biden heres what i would do. Let me tell you what Health Experts have said to me. Its in the because im unique as the president elect, its because of my family. They strongly urge that if in fact were going to have thanksgiving with anyone that we limit it to maximum, maximum, they suggest five people, maximum 10 people. Socially distanced, wearing masks. And people who have quarantined. So joe and i so jill and i spent this morning like many of you trying to figure out what are we going to do for thanksgiving . How are we going to do it . We narrowed down which family members and that they were tested, recently tested within 24 hours. And so i would strongly urge for the sake, not just your sake, for the sake of your children, your mother, your fathering your sisters, your brothers, whoever you get together at thanksgiving, think about this. There should be no group more than 10 people in one room. At one time. I mean, inside the home. Thats what theyre telling me. Theyre telling me, making sure that thats the case. And i have the i have the more potent mask behind this one, i took it out when i came out here, that you be masked. Save lives. Look, i just want to make sure that were able to be together next thanksgiving. Next christmas. I mean it is an international crisis. Its an International Health crisis. And the idea, were at war with the virus. We are at war, for real. All kidding aside, i hope all of you, i watch you all, you seem to wear masks all the time when youre in the group that follows me, that is assigned to delaware with me. Seem to do that. I strongly urge you to do it. Theres nothing much macho about not wearing a mask. Reporter thank you. Reporter thank you, mr. President elect, madam president elect. Just a second. Your plan that you outlined just now, about a Million Union jobs, clean energy jobs, investments in hbcus, those are things that take time. We have a problem with longterm unemployment thats growing fast right now. What would you do right away, specifically, to address jobs that may not return for months, may not return ever, including in communities of color . President elect biden what i would do is pass the heroes act. It has all the money and capacity to take care of each of those things now. Now, not tomorrow. Now. And the idea the president is still playing golf and not doing anything about it is beyond my comprehension. Youd at least think hed want to go off on a positive note. But what is he doing . Theres virtually no discussion. The republicans, were told, i dont know that its true, you may no senator, that theres 22 republicans who wont vote for anything. There ought to be at least a dozen of them to have the courage to stand up and save lives an jobs now. We should be doing it now. Keeping those businesses open. Providing the p. P. E. , the protective equipment, as well as the p. P. P. , the money that reallow people to get funding to keep their businesses open. Everything from separation to testing to a whole range of things that allow businesses to open and stay open. Thats what this plan was at the beginning. By the way, if you notice in the beginning, when they passed the stimulus program, the first two pieces, what happened . Businesses were staying open. When they werent open they were still able to people were able to get paid. Look where they are now. People are running out of unemployment insurance. What are they going to do . 20 Million People on the verge of losing their home because they cant make mortgage payments. A larger number being kicked out, that will be kicked out in the street because they cant pay their rent. And by the way, its not just the renter. Its the outfit that owns the building. A lot of them arent multimillionaires but running small operations. How can they do it . This is about keeping americans afloat. Get them through this pandemic. Get them through where theyre still, their businesses are able to come back. The money is there. The money is there. Reporter also on the economic front, as we fight the pandemic, world trade continues and theres great debate over world trade agreements, International Trade agreements. It seems that in the last couple of days, 15 countries, Asian Pacific countries, have signed on to a new trade deal, the rcpe. Should the United States consider joining that trade agreement . President elect biden ive talked with a number of World Leaders and told them under the law im not able to become to discuss with them, theres only one president at a time, as to who can say what our policy will be. So im reluctant to answer that question now. But heres what i can say. We make up 25 of the worlds trading capacity, of the economy of the world. We need to be aligned with the other democracies. Another 25 or more. So we can set the rules of the road instead of having china and others dictate outcomes because they are the only game in town. And so but what im insisting on and what i, when asked by World Leaders what i would do, i say i want you to know that three things will happen if im elected. One were going to invest in American Workers and make them more competitive. Number two, weir going to make sure that labor is at the table and environmentalists are at the sable in any trade deals we make. Im not looking for punitive the idea that we are poking our finger in the eyes of our friends and embracing autocrats makes no sense to me. But im reluctant to get into more edetail at this moment. I promise you i have a pretty thorough plan and i will be prepared to announce that on january 21. Reporter you have end kayed indicated you want to make on other fronts like the paris climate president elect biden yes, the generic notion oaf are join bug didnt say. The same with rejoining the World Health Organization. Reporter why not here . President elect biden youre asking me if i will gin a specific proposal, the details are just now being negotiating among nations. They require negotiation. Thank you. President elect biden thank you. Thank you guys. [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] fun fund [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2020] house in recess until 4 00 eastern time. Today lawmakers will be working on veterans related bills. Later this week they begin work on legislation to respond to the crashes of the boeing 737 max airplane that took place in 2018 and 2019. When the house returns, watch live coverage on cspan. The nasa spacex crew is due to arrive at the International Space station tonight. Our live coverage starts at approximately 11 00 p. M. Eastern when they dock with the i. S. S. Thats followed by an onboard welcoming ceremony and a postdocking news conference. Watch live on cspan. Online at cspan. Org. Or listen on the free cspan radio app. Tonight, on the communicators we talk about the way the 2020 election will affect the tech and Telecommunications Industries call, kyle orters daley and john hendel. Obviously this 2020 election has been a major test of the Election Integrity policies that these companies have adopted over the last few few years. One thing that the Biden Administration pretty early on is going to have to figure out what theyre going to do with is theyre inheriting a very at very least a google antitrust lawsuit from the d. O. J. People who talked about health that point to broadban. They point to people who cant do remote learn, they point to people who are struggling to have connectivity at home when they need to be home to be safe sometimes. So i think thats going to be a huge thing to watch in the weeks and months ahead. Tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern, on the communicators on cspan2
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