Good afternoon. Vice president like biden and i met with democratic and republican governors. Talk about what we need to do to make free Testing Available to everyone, to make a free vaccine available for everyone and to get this pandemic under control. Governors are elected by their states to take action in moments of crisis. They are the ones who talk to the people who are the hardest hit and during this pandemic to have been called on to make very difficult decisions about the health and safety of the people they represent and about opening schools and opening our economy responsibly. I have served in state and local government so i understand the Critical Role our government plays. We will have partners in the white house starting gender trends because of governor herberts inner meaning in the states are successful the country is successful. Our message to our governor into all of our nations state and local leaders as simple president elect biden and i will make sure you have the resources and support you need to save lives and help get our economy back on track. We will also make sure that our federal state local and Tribal Authority are working closely together so they can tackle these challenges as effectively as possible. When it comes to this pandemic and the economic recovery we are not democrats or republicans, we are americans and we will be there for one another. Thats the kind of leadership the American People need and deserve as the kind of leadership president elect biden and i will provide and is now my great honor to introduce president elect joe biden. Hello, folks. Good afternoon. Thanks for your patience. Vice president ect and i have just conclud a videoconference with the executive leadership of the National Governors conference and that included Governor Cuomo new york governor hutchison, Governor HoganGovernor Whitmer governor baker, governor lan grisham governor herbertnd governor carney. It was really a worthwhile undertaking. You know they have had to make some really tough calls during this unprecedented crisis. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have done in keep doingo keep our communities safe. Unfortunately because of a lack of discernment as they say whi is a fancy word these days but until the tsa says we in fact are seeing this transition team, our team the senator and i are the likely winners. We dont have access tall the information that we need to get om the various agencies. We are not able to deal with everything from testing and guidance and the Vaccine Distribution more portly vaccination pn to get the vaccination. We havent been able to g to operation warp speed. But w will take is a weaker today and build entirelan for the companies are still on the crisis and theres a dark winter still ahead said yesterday america reached another tragic milestone, 250,000 deatha quarter Million People have died of covid19. Their empty chairs and dining room tables that were filled ju days and weeks ago with loved ones family and friends who laugh and talked together. To those families and friends who are left behind jill and i senator levin our prayers. We know as many of you do how tough it is to find purpose in the mery of a loved one you have just lost to take time that you will find it, you will find it and you will find your purpose as we are going to find their purpose for our nation as a naon now. I promise you tha and i promise you we will work tether. Thereas a great meeting we had toy but all the governors no matter their Political Party whether they are from wherever part of the country they represented no matter their litical philosophy shared a strong and abing sen of the common purpose and a real desire r Real Partnership between the states and the federal government. Each of the governors of the size we might need democrats and publicans but we are all Americans First and they congratulated is hardly four hour when and what really pleases me the most was the governors made clear beating covid19 will acque all of us working together as one country. , lott and agree we were deeply impressed with how much consensus there was and how to move forward among the governor what we need to d now is how we need to do it. How are we going to do it and it will coordinate a way can it be done quickly discuss a number of critical ways we can work gether and unify around a National Approach to controlli covid19. First t bring Economic Relief to the citys states and triba communities. The lost reven from covid and the cost of covid is devastating to state and local budgetsnd governors al of them indicated we have got to come togetr. The federal government has to delive this relief sooner rather than later and with with the flexibility to thetates to meet their needs. This incdes businesses, schools, working families from Unemployment Benefits to ucation connued access to Affordable Health care, all that is needed during this pandemic to states and communities should t delay of teachers cops and firefighters cut Vital Services for falies and businesses. The second thg we are in uniform agreement on deliveng a safe equitable a free vaccine. The governors acknowledged as one of the greatest operational challenges we will have faced in the nation. One statistic that was raised by the goveor, it took eight months to provide 100 million covid test, eight monthso provide a covitest. Just imagine how much difficult it will be they pointed out that would dont fd a more efcient and effective way to provide 330 million vaccinations put it in perspective. They made the point we cannot wait. Thats what the governors are saying to the meeting we discussed the chaenges that lie ahead in distributing an administrative vacci. The governors talked about how getting doses of vaccine distrited is one step. We haveo actually get ccinations into the arms of 330 million americans. That takes enoous resources, people, products. We discuss the difficulty. It takes time and its goi to take ordination. Its going to take the federal and State Government working hand in glove working together. The governors on for size we need tbe clear with the American People abt what to expect. No false expectations. Let themnow what we anticipate. They had knowledge that this will take a Massive PublicEducation Campaign and we also need to reached traditional underserved communities that are hardt hit by the pandemic black round latino latin american and native American Communities small towns Rural Communities. They talkedbout that in some detail. Third we discussed the need to help states wh funding for the National Guard and thats a fancy way of saying governo need to be able to get funding andring the National Guard into play by the National Guard costs a lot of money and governors needs that paid for. Governors discussed the need for funding fema fees. The fact i this is a national emergency. That is what fema supsed to deal with. Our view is that should be done when it comes to deployi the National Guard for covidelief that should be paid for. Thats something, and i we are focused on and importantly we discuss discussed the implementation of a National Mask mandate 10 governors, democrat and republican imposining masking requirements and recognize the need for universal north southeastnd west. Its not a political statement. To pay to rabbit duty. Fifth we discussed making testid accessible and everyon should be able to get one. Matt reid final well we focused on immediate need to control the virus the governors also talked about infrastructure and educationnd so much more. This is not a oneff meeting. Iommitted, we committed and we agreed and we will continue to work to meet with governors oa regular basis continue to seek input and our covid team ll follow us and coordinate o issues coming out of that call. Some have very competent people on their covid team in their state. The bottom line, we can dthis. Theres nothing beyond our capacity. We have to come together as a country. Wi this meeting along with others we have hadt reinforces in my view the unity of the country is looking for. We are looking for us to come together and deal with problems most of which have no ideologicabasis for disagreement. That is what we have to do that is what the governors talked about. It was really pleasing to hear them and iant to thank you all and may god bless you all and those whove lost someone u are in our prayers. May god protect our kids but im happy to take a few queions and of my boss is going to tell meho that is. C thank you mr. President elect. The Economic Impact and talk a bit about the relief package you wanted but i was wondering if it could talk about things to be able to do as president and that will govern your decisions in terms of the economy but as wondering if i could ask what kind of framework you are thinking about is you decide about the treasury secretary Going Forward whether you would consider andy said during the debate you wanted to punish china for the way they have been acting whether that would include economic sanctions or tariffs towards china and finally do you think a dollar helps or hurts the u. S. As we are grappling with the stark unemployment . Look let me take them one at a time. You will soon hear my choice for treasury. We made that decision and youll hear that just before or just after thanksgiving number one and you will find someone who i think will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party and the moderate coalitions. Secondly its not so much about punishing 10 but making sure china understands they have to play by the rules. Its a simple proposition and so thats one of the reasons why we are going to rejoin the World Health Organization and rejoin on day one as well and it needs reform i acknowledge and rejoin the paris climate accord. We have to make sure that the rest of the world and we get together to make sure they are certain bright lines the chinese understand. We have to not only deal with this pandemic but we have to plan for the next one. The idea that these viruses are just going to go away or not rational. We will read calibrated and set up the institutional structures we have an Art Administration of obamabiden and build on it. At was your third question. About the dollar sir on whether you think a strong dollar will help with unemplment are generally how you would like the Federal Reserve to approach it. The way the federal as reserve has been approaching dealing with the dollar has been in a positive direction. Interest rates are as low as they have been in modern history and i think that is a positive thing. It lends credence to the possibility of us being able to expend the money in order to be able to generate Economic Growth right off the bat. I think its possible so far. C thank you mr. President elect. You have set up this transition doesnt get going especially coordinate some Vaccine Distribution that lives will be lost. How many lives do you think art riskier if the transition remains stalled . Will look you up for the projections for the projections are that nothing fundamentally changes between now and the beginning of february we will likely lose up to a total of 400,000 lives and another 150,000 lives. So its real. Whatever it is, its real and there is no of skus not to share the data and let us begin to plan because on day one its going to take us time if we dont have access to the state is going to put us behind the 8 ball by a matter of a month or more and thats lives. How many will be lost as a consequence of that i can tell you that the purpose here is we talked a lot about what the immediate needs are. We are going to enforce, excuse me employ the defense act to be able to go out there and dictate companies build and do the following things. We need much more testing but we need much more masking and we need gloves. I asked the National Governors association Governor Cuomo and the ones on the line kamala us know what the shortages are. We are going to move on day one. That should be moved on now, now. If they wait to tak a long time to get ts thing going. When you take step back and look at the way the president is handling in s refusal to concede what do you think is really going on here . In your vie would he thinkhe president is doing . What are america witnessing here . T me choose my words i think we are witnessing incredible irresponsibility, incredibly damagg messages being sent to the restf the world about how democracy functions and i think it is well i dont know his motives but i think its totally irresponsible. Are you concerned that people might question the legitimacy of your administration . Im not concerned that the vast majoryf the people as the polling data have indicated over 70 to 80 of the rekha ople believe without question is legitimate and i just think, and i think most of the republicans ive spoken to including some goverrs think this is debilitating. Since a horrible message about who we are as a country. Thank you mr. President elect and thank you Vice President elect paris. Its nice to see you. Appreciate it. You have said that les could be lost if you dont start getting briefings from the Trump Administration and now here we are more than 250,000 lives could be lost. Given thatow do you justify not taking legal action tget the briefings that you say are critical that you say you need . It will take a lot of time. It will take time. Its not going to be sped up considerably in my view in the meantime i am hopeful that im going to be able to get cooperate and from our republican colleagues in the senate and the house as well as the governors to build a consensus. This is how we succeed when we do. A why not use every tool in your toolbox to get the information that you say you need to do your job and to do it effectively on day one . I am making a judgment based on many years of experience on how to get things done with the opposition. My judgment is that we will get further along by actually working with our republican colleagues now and because the time in which we would win is not materially changing necessarily but its still an open question. Its an open question that could change. You havent ruled out legal action against the Trump Administration of the gsa . We have our world about. Even the death toll now more than 250,000 amecans who have now lost their lives you have said that you would support the nationwide shutdown if scientists recommended it. It everybody asked the question every single time i stand here. It was a hypothetical question and the answer was i would follow the science. Im not going to shut down the economy period. Im going to shut down the virus. Thats all im going to shut down and let me say that again. No National Shutdown. No National Shutdown because every region, every area every community can be different. So there is no circumstance that i can see that would require total National Shutdown. I think that would be counterproductive but there are constraints in which the degree to which businesses cant be opened. For example its one thing to say you can have in a state where the infection rate is not as high you can have the gymnasium opened. Another thing to say it can be open four hours a day with x number of people. And the church only 40 of the people are allowedo come into the chch. Its based on what the trend is. Tha you mr. President. Thank you. This meant to overturn the election. And also michigan republican, at the white house. Anything that he is doing making you rethink your strategy. I know you say that you do not want to have legal action right now. What you say to americans especially immigrant americans came to the United States looking for political stability and saying all of the things that the president is doing. Biden i say im here and i am on my way. And its not a joke. And with the president is doing now is really going to be another incident where he will go down in history. As one of the most irresponsible president s in american history. Its not within the norm at all. The questions whether its even legal. But it will be interesting to see who shows up. We have one michigan. It will be certified. We will end up making clear that they are, that we one. I just, it is hard to fathom how this man thanks. And its hard to fathom, i am confident he knows hes not one paredes not going to be able to win and be sworn in on january 20th. Its hard for me to question his motives. Its just outrageous what he is doing. Reporter the things that he is doing goat doing. Calling officials, is it making you rethink your strategy at all. Is there anything to say that we really have to go to court now. E you still just watchin what he is doing is a still kind of way to see what happens. Biden i wont rule anything out or anything in. At the moment, the strategy is not changing. Reporter if i could ask the question. You talked about your state experience. My question is there anything that youve heard from the governors today they lead to specifically concerned about vulnerable populations especially as a talk to americans to say, i dont have the privilege to work from home for you and dont have the privilege if i am losing and living in a house with multi generations. Did you hear anything tha concerns you specifically what can we do for th as a country. We hear a lot from the governors including that the concern that africanamericans latinos and native americans people live t role communities, and is groups of people have historically been unde resourced and under served. And so tre was consensus among the governors of bipartisan consensus or federal straty should reflect those concerns in a way that we support t states with the resources they will need to get to the folks who have been often overlooked or ignored. And t president elect, i thank you so made very clear that her highest priority to support that is you may know in the senate, i actually led will be the Racial Disparity task force. And that is something that will we will be incorporating in our administration make sure that all people have equal access to resources. But also taking into account equitable distributions of resources. Reporter thank you president elect. Biden one important thing to understand we talk a lot about this. When i was running as well. And that is that the idea of the brown, black, asian americans, native American Communities are always the first one hit the hardest in the last ones who were brought back. We are going to flip that around. Its going to be really important to determine priorities. It will be based upon access to the information that is available in access to everything from the vaccine, to other opportunities to be able to deal with helping the country and part of the country is been hurt the worst. Too any times africanamericans died any more than white americans. Who have died from covid19. So there has to be a prioritization. That is why i would like to know exactly what this administration has in mind in terms of their operation for speeding. And how they planet. In this what we about with the governors today. They all mentioned it to me to focus on the communities who have been left behind. Particular Governor Cuomo. Is one thing for example the vaccines are distributed to all of the walgreens in america. Im not criticizing walgreens but you know, theres a lot of those facilities were not in the Rural Communities and are not in poor communities, African AmericanLatino Community some kind of make their access for them. Reporter thank you so much. Biden thank you. Reporter . [inaudible]. Joe biden as president elect, stay with cspan for life coverage, and for trends third of power. Cspan your unfiltered view of politics. Party afternoon Vice President mike pence will be speaking and georgia with Georgia Republican senators david purdue and kelly both have elections coming this january. You can watch live coverage at 1230 eastern on cspan2, online cspan. Org or his life in the free cspan radio app. Choose your mobile devices and go to cspan. Org for the latest video, live and ondemand. To follow the transition of power. President trump, president elect biden, news conferences, and event coverages a cspan. Org. The tv on cspan2 has top nonfiction books and authors every weekend coming up this weekend, saturday 1 00 p. M. Eastern, the recent virtual brooklyn book festival, authors veronica chambers, amy and senator garcia, on savage movement. Then authors brian elton Clarence Taylor on the history of civil rights in new york. On 7 25 p. M. Eastern, adam author of midnight in chernobyl, the untold story of the worlds eatest nuclear disaster. On sunday, and 1 00 p. M. Eastern. More from the brooklyn book festival. And authors, discuss the past and future of technology. And then, on the potential effects the coronavirus will have on society. In a 9 0p. M. Eastern, on afterwards, clinical scientist and author deborah talks about the book, counting. How we use numbers to decide what matters. Shes interviewed by data scientists and author kathy oneill. Watch book tv, on cspan2, this weekend. Next