Secretary addressed kansas voters and water rights. Other topics included as an bidens executive order on access to reproductive care, inflation reduction, speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to taiwan, Energy Prices and Disaster Relief for the flooding in kentucky and wildfires in california. Good afternoon everybody. In the wake of dobbs the president predicted people will turn out in record numbers to reclaim rights stolen from them and they did. The ballot measure proposed by extreme out of step republican officials what have eviscerated fundamental rights and access to health care. Republican officials have been very clear, they are pushing extreme laws banning a womans right to choose, many of which do not allow exceptions, even for rape or incensed. They are calling on a national ban on abortion. As i mentioned yesterday the doj bought a suit against idaho, where a near total abortion ban is threatening womens lives. Federal law makes clear doctors must provide Emergency Care, including Abortion Services to women facing health and lifethreatening conditions. Under idahos law women with medical conditions like ectopic pregnancys hemorrhages can be denied the Emergency Care they need. Today, President Biden will sign an executive order the first meeting of the Interagency Task force that builds on the actions we have already taken to protect access to safe abortions, contraception, and the ability to travel. Today, the president is directing the secretary of health and Human Services to work with states, including through medicaid help women who need to travel out of state for Reproductive Health care. Ensuring there is no discrimination, and promoting research and Data Collection on Maternal Health outcomes. There have been big steps forward in the fight to protect our rights, but it is not the end of the fight. What is at stake here is a choice between a National Abortion ban and as republicans have called for and more radical attacks on the fundamental rights v versus standing up for the rights americans have been entitled for almost 50 years. We are now seeing 50 days into what remains the fastest decline in gas prices in over a decade. Gas prices are now down . 86 a gallon from their geo he their peak, saving American Families over 90 a month on gas. Drivers can find gas for less than 3. 99 a gallon at more than half of all gas stations across the country. Prices are coming down, even as putins war puts pressure on Global Energy supply. President biden promised he would address putins price hike at the pump and he is. He is releasing one billion barrels of oil a day from the Strategic Petroleum reserve. He is ray laying international rowling International Partners rallyng International Parts rallying International Board partners. They can continue to come down. Finally, the former treasury secretary from both the democratic and Republican Administration just became the latest in a wide range of Economic Experts to endorse the Inflation Reduction Act. These highlevel officials from both parties reaffirmed that this package will cut many of families biggest costs and act against inflation. They became the latest in a long list of experts as i shared with you, recently, who have debunked congressional lives meant to protect tax welfare for wealthy special interest at any cost even prolonged inflation. Larry summers, tim geithner, jack lew, hank paulson, and bob rubin join over 120 leading economists including nobel prize winners, with analyze the Inflation Reduction Act and agreed will lower cost, reduce inflation, address a range of critical and longstanding economic challenges. There are three new polls out today from political, yahoo news and Navigator Research that underscore the american publics overwhelming support for the major components of the bill, including lowering the cost of prescription drugs, requiring large corporations on the wealthiest americans to pay their fair share and Lower Health Insurance premiums. Americans are weighing in with resort support for the act and that is in contrast to republican members of congress who want to block this legislation to protect tax welfare for the wealthy corporations. Not only that but, while Congressional Democrats want to lower your prescription drugs and healthcare costs, republicans want to put medicare and Social Security on the chopping block. Every year. Like ron johnson repeated yesterday, the choice is clear, we urge congress to move forward with this package as soon as possible. Josh, the floors yours. Two questions on two subjects. First opec, it is producing Oil Production at a slower pace than previous months. Has President Biden visited saudi arabia, was this the substantial increase that the administration was looking for . Karine the president has been clear that oil supply should meet oil demand. I just laid this out in the top which is seven weeks ago, the price of barrel oil was 120. Now it is around 95. Gas prices went for more than five dollars to under four dollars per for the majority of the country. We have seen the fastest decline in gas prices in over a decade. That is 50 days straight of decline. What we are focused on is keeping those prices down. We wanted to see some increases in production before we announce the trip. We saw that in the first week of june when opec lusted announced they were going to increase their production by 50 in july and august. What we are focused on is the bottom line for us, that reducing the price of oil in the markets is the most import thing. That is what we are seeing and that is what we will continue to work on. The Bipartisan Group including introduced a bill that would enact abortion bands, they would allow some restrictions on abortions for pregnancy. Does President Biden consider that satisfactory . Karine i know that that was introduced. The president has been clear on this. The only way to secure womans right to chooses for congress to take action, to restore protections of roe as federal law. That is how we are going to do this in a blanket way so that a womans right for Reproductive Health is really protected. He stands ready to work with congress to pass a bill that does exactly that. It is the majority of the American People that believe this. They believe that a womans right to choose should be there right. So, we will continue to work with congress. I dont have anything specific to say about that legislation. We have been very clear Congress Needs to act in order to codify row roe. A of questions about taiwan. Has the president spoke to Speaker Pelosi since she left taiwan . Karine she is traveling to japan and south korea. I cant remember which one is first. She is on her travels. I dont have a call to read out to you at this time. But, their relationship. They talk regularly. They dont have i dont have anything to read out. The g7 expressed concerns about chinas threatening behavior in the taiwan trade. Does this come with any consequences if china continues this behavior . Karine let me reiterate what weve been saying from the podium for many days now. We also heard this directly from our National Security advisor jake sullivan, was on many of your networks yesterday, saying the speaker has the right to make a decision on where she chooses to travel. We provide the assistance and the geopolitical briefing and what we believe the National Security reasons are for and lay that out for pressure makes a decision. She we do not decide where she goes. She makes that decision. The president was a senator for 36 years and he understands that particular fact. That is number one. It does not change at all our longstanding policy. That we have had. We have made that clear. The trip doesnt change that. Theres a precedent for the speaker. So, none of that changes. Theres no reason for beijing to change this to turn this visit as a pretext to increase aggressive military presence in or around the taiwan straight. But again, it doesnt change anything. The president spoke to president xi last week. That was their fifth conversation. They continue to have an open dialogue. That is what we have been wanting with china. Again, there is no reason to see any change. It continues to be consistent. The g7 is warning china not to continue this behavior. What is the consequence for china for does continue this behavior . Karine we said that we knew this was going to happen. We knew china would behave in this way. Again, it doesnt change our policy. We are going to monitor and we will manage what beijing chooses to do. To know if the president is going to sign on at the ruling of abortion. Does the Human Health Department consider the action . What is your urgency for women who need help and one will be help kickin . Karine what a president doesnt executive order it is to consider. That is the wording and language. That is nothing new. Youll see that in any executive order that he signs. It is in line with that. It is really important what this is going to do. It will help low income women. If you think about it, it paves the way from medicaid four medicaid to pay abortions for women. The secretary will allow states to apply for waivers to provide Reproductive Health care for women in states where abortions are banned. That will be the strongest in legal policy rows. That is what the president is doing, reviewing the options he has. The thing to note, we have said this, this is in consultation with groups, with legal experts, when we make these announcements. The president has been very clear, he is going to do whatever he can to make sure that a womans right to choose continues to be protected the best way he can from the federal government. The way we do this, the way to make sure that it is federal law, Congress Needs to act. Americans need to make sure that their voices are heard. What is the timeline on this . For women who need or want an abortion soon, will this help them get one . Are we talking about days, weeks, six months . Karine thats a great question. We dont have the details to share. But we will soon have more on what the waiver could look like in the timeline as you are asking me. Which would generally target low income women served by medicaid and help cover certain costs. Hhs, the president is going to sign the executive order, secretary becerra will work with his team to figure out the details on the timeline. How well you be able to pay and help women pay to cross the line to get somewhere they need to go given the restrictions . Karine that is something have they not figured that out . Karine we will leave it to them to come up with the details on the specifics on how they will work with states, if the states ask for a waiver and how that will look like. They will come up with the specifics, with the details on how this is going to work. Again, this is what the president is doing. He is looking at everything that is available to him on the table, whatever is legally possible, what he can use with his executive authority to move forward on. That is what he is doing. Quick question on oil. 100,000 barrels a day, is enough support 8670 86 seconds of oil demand a day. What analysts say it could increase ructions production five times a month. As the white house happy with that . Does biden feel like he got what he wanted out of saudi arabia . Karine the way we look at this is i laid out the gas prices and how it has went down. 120 there we go. This is the prices at the pump, . 86. If you look at the barrels the barrel that went from 120 to 95. That is a Significant Movement that we have seen. And again, we are not members of the opec plus. We do not belong to opec plus. But they made an announcement the first week of june and they said they would increase 50 in july and august. They did that. This is one month, if you think about it. This is a one month increase. But the president will continue to do the work. If you think about his trip to the middle east. It was important to go. You think about the announcement about the human truth yemen truth, that was a war that started eight years ago. By having that truth, going on six months, we are saving thousands of lives. That matters as well. We think the trip was certainly worth it. It also allowed israel to come back to be included in the middle east region, which is also important. So, when it comes to gas prices and Oil Production and meeting supply, we will work on that. Youve seen the president take the steps, 20 think, about the Strategic Petroleum reserve how he was a any think about the Strategic Petroleum reserve, how he was able to rally our allies. We see that as incredibly important. China petroleum and chemical corporations to collaborate more to create a new manufacturing in saudi arabia. Is there concern that saudi arabia is loosening its energy ties with the u. S. And getting closer to china . Karine that particular report, i would have to go back to the team and get back to you. I have not seen that. A followup on the executive order. Since the president is directing the secretary of hhs to get their health care services, what are some examples of actions and where there examples of the white house to consider . Karine thats a good question. I can give you a bit of the waiver details i dont have examples. We are always happy. Medicaid provides cumbrians of health care with low income. This care includes a Family Planning services such as contraception. Nonemergency medical transportation and support Services Like targeted Case Management which allow Health Care Providers to help patients cordon eight their care and it also includes abortion care in certain circumstances as accepted by the height amendment which is raped, incised incensed of the mother. Todays announcement is to leverage medicaid to support medicaid for those living with the abortion ban. This process will be driven. It they will have more to share on the medicaid of what the medicaid opportunity is including through medicaid waivers there available to states interested in supporting patient care for those who live out of state. Though, these opportunities will target lowincome women served by medicaid. Because we were asked that question how we were going to help women who couldnt afford abortion so, this is this answers this question having the waivers. And it will cover will cover care that is otherwise part of medicaids comprehensive benefit program, which include travel under medicaids nonemergency medical transportation benefit. They will have more of the details, but thats kind of the laydown that i can give you at this time. Reporter and just in terms of the timing of this executive order obviously, the idea of , helping patients who need to travel out of states out of , whatever state theyre living in now to get Abortion Services, other Healthcare Services i think thats an idea that you all have been, obviously, talking about since the Supreme Court overturned roe v. Wade. I guess, why is this executive order coming out now and directing hhs to consider more actions . Presumably, they would have thinking about this already, right . Ms. Jeanpierre well, you know, as you know, the last executive order that we signed the president signed was to create a task force. And that Task Force One of the reasons it was created is so that it could be streamline our efforts here and our efforts across the agencies to come up with ideas of how to move forward and how to move the best way to deal with this crisis thats in front of us. And so that is one part right . The task force came together, they are putting forth ideas and ways to move forward. I think the other thing to think about is you know, the president , has executive authority, but he also has to make sure he talks to the legal experts, right . He has to make sure that the ideas that we have or come up with can be done. And so thats also a big part of it, too. This is a government. Theres steps and processes that we have to take in order to take actions as big as as big as these. And so thats something, as well, to take note. But look, there has been an urgency from this president from day one when the Supreme Court made this extreme decision to take away a constitutional right. It was an unconstitutional action by them a right that was around for almost 50 years, a right that women had to make a decision on their bodies and how they want to start their families. And so the president has been very clear that hes going to do everything that he can. It doesnt stop with this. But we also understand that, you know, its he cant only be the only person working on this, right . Thats why we continue to ask congress to take action. Reporter am i doing the math right that the 30day report that the president asked secretary becerra for, that would be on sunday, i think . Ms. Jeanpierre i have not done the math, so i i trust you on that. I dont have anything new on the 30day report. Reporter the president had previously said he wanted the Justice Department and hhs to explore ways that they could protect interstate travel. How is this different or at all new from what he said weeks ago . Ms. Jeanpierre i think laying out how to do that by offering this medicaid waiver is a big deal. I mean, this is a big deal for women who cant afford to have abortion. This is a big deal for women who are trying to figure out how are they going to pay for their healthcare. This is a big, big deal for them. And so, we were asked i remember one of the last times i was in front in front of you talking about this particular issue, i was asked, ok, well, what are you guys going to do for women who cant afford . This answers that begins to answer that. So we think this is an important step. Its not the only step. But again, the president has been very clear about how do we get to roe becoming federal law. Its americans have to make sure , that their voices are heard. Thats why i laid out or talked about what kansas did last night. Reporter and will there be more details, for example, for women who are looking to utilize these services . How do they access, as you outlined, some of the things transportation, those Health Services in other states . How is that going to work . Ms. Jeanpierre no, all good questions. Hhs will be clearly leading this effort and will have more details to share. Reporter and then just one more quick one here. Has the president had any conversations with senator sinema as the Senate Continues to negotiate over the Inflation Reduction Act, or any conversations that the white house is having with senators as they try to push this over the finish line . Ms. Jeanpierre were not going to negotiate from here, as we say many times, or in public just in general and not going to speak to any other congressional members conversations or whats happening, related to that. Reporter hi, karine. Yeah, a different subject. A couple questions. Theres Text Messages reported today from january 6 from top pentagon and Army Officials deemed key witnesses in the Capitol Attack that were deleted after their phones were wiped. Is there any concern from this administration about confidence in the dod or the army because of that . Ms. Jeanpierre so my understanding is this is part of an ongoing litigation, so i would refer you to the department of defense. Its not something that i can comment on. And they will have further comment or details. But ill say this, more generally heres what i will say to your question we have , been very clear that we strongly believe in following Public Record rules. That is important. And the president also has been very clear that everyone should cooperate with the january 6 committee so they can get to the bottom of what happened that day. But im not going to speak to any specific details. I would refer you to department of defense. Reporter i just want to know if he has confidence in the dod. And does he also have confidence remained in the secret Service Detail ms. Jeanpierre yeah, ive ive answered your last question and ill answer the former question. Yes, he has confidence in the men and women who protect him and his family. So he does have confidence in them. And the department of defense yes, of course, he has confidence in department of defense. Reporter and, finally, the last question andrew yang, former , democrat, has announced a third party. Any reaction from this white house about the viability of a third party with andrew yang at the head of it . Ms. Jeanpierre i as you know when i say this often, i cannot speak to politics from here. I have given up that life for the moment. Im going to go back, and ill come back up. Ok. Reporter yeah, so on the opec announcement given what the president has invested, does he feel like the increase was an insult . Ms. Jeanpierre look and i said this earlier and ill say this again the fact of the matter is that oil and gas prices are coming down. They are coming down. And they have been coming down since the president announced his trip. The moment he announced his trip, we saw gas prices and oil prices coming down. And so that is also important to note. But what were focused on is that our goal is to bring prices down for americans, and thats what were seeing. So we have seen some results. You saw the chart that was behind me. And were going to continue to do the work on the domestic and International Oil producers to increase the supply of oil. It doesnt stop with the announcement today. It didnt stop with the announcement in early june. We continue to do that work. Again, we are not members of opec , but we welcome you know, we welcome their announcement. Reporter the Strategic Petroleum reserve is at the lowest level in 37 years. The release of 1 Million Barrels a day ends in september. So whats the plan then after that . Ms. Jeanpierre well, from my understanding, and i can get you more specifics, is that we are replenishing the Strategic Petroleum reserve. I dont have more to share on that. But im happy to get more information. Reporter can i ask a question about afghanistan . Ms. Jeanpierre im going im going around. Go ahead. Go ahead, steven. And then ill come down. Reporter all right. Very quickly, where are the deliberations on a National Emergency with respect to abortion rights . Ms. Jeanpierre i dont we dont have anything to share with you today on that. Again, the president is looking at all his options. Youre going to hear from him. Thats where everybody is going at this moment to hear from him at 2 00 on this particular executive order that were moving forward with. I dont have more to share on that. Reporter do the results in kansas, as expressed by the people of that state, make the president feel that the members of his party should push stronger in congress to repeal the Hyde Amendment . Ms. Jeanpierre oh, i mean, were you know, the Hyde Amendment is law. And were going to were going to follow that law. So im not going to get into more than that. But i will say this about what we saw in kansas, the president was very clear that in order to, you know, protect our rights or codify roe, we need to make sure that our voices are heard. And thats what you saw. You saw the power of the American People last night. And that is incredibly important. It was not expected, what we saw last night. And and so this is what we need to continue to do. In order to make sure that it is the law of the land, that roe becomes law of the land, people have to make their voices heard. And we we are going to were going to continue to call on them to do that. Go ahead. Reporter thanks, karine. Two quick questions. On the abortion eo, can you give any more clarification on whether or not the president directed hhs to have the waivers pay for travel or have the waivers pay for the abortion procedure itself . Ms. Jeanpierre so the so its the medicaid waiver, from what i understand. It is for them to pay for abortion procedure. And i dont have the specifics on the travel. We can easily go back. But from what i understand, medicaid pays for your Healthcare Services, so i presume its for the healthcare. Yeah. Yeah. Reporter ok. Ms. Jeanpierre but i can get more detail on that. I want to make sure i get that right. Reporter ok. And then, on taiwan, has the Ronald ReaganCarrier Group left the east coast of taiwan, or is it still there . Ms. Jeanpierre i would have to get back to you on that. Reporter can you characterize any communications that you guys have had with the taiwan military as they get ready for these pla drills . Ms. Jeanpierre i dont have i dont have more to share on that. Reporter thank you. Ms. Jeanpierre go ahead. Go ahead, peter. Reporter thanks, karine. How come republicans seem more jazzed about Speaker Pelosis trip than the president . Ms. Jeanpierre youre going to have to ask republicans. Jazzed . Reporter well, yeah. Ms. Jeanpierre do they have jazz hands, peter . Reporter do i have jazz hands . Ms. Jeanpierre do they have jazz hands . You said jazzed that theyre feeling jazzed. Reporter we can have our hill team check. [laughter] but Mitch Mcconnell said, i think its important for the speaker to go to taiwan. Lindsey graham said the idea of her going is a good thing. Chuck grassley, im sure glad that she went. Is President Biden just worried about hurting xis feelings . Ms. Jeanpierre i so youre saying, because they said that, then were not jazzed . Reporter yeah. Absolutely. Ms. Jeanpierre [laughs] weve been very clear weve been very clear for, gosh, the past week or so, that the speaker has the right to go to taiwan. We have said that. Reporter she has a right. Yes, youve been clear that she has a right to go, but why is it so hard for the president just to say, shes a brave trailblazer, and i think its great that she went, like so many others on ms. Jeanpierre i think the president thinks that Speaker Pelosi is a great trailblazer. Look, i reporter does he think that it was good that she went . Ms. Jeanpierre heres the thing, what we are saying is that we cannot dictate and we will not dictate where members of congress go. Members of congress wait, let me reporter totally get that, but when they go, he doesnt dictate if they go. Now he can say if he thinks it was good or not. Ms. Jeanpierre i mean, thats not how it works. That is not how it works here. It really isnt. Members of congress have the right to travel wherever they chose. Our part of this is to make sure we give them a thorough and complete briefing when it comes to the geopolitics of the region or the state, or when it comes to National Security. That is our part in this. Reporter now that taiwan is effectively encircled by the Chinese Military doing these drills, does the president think that the trip was worth the trouble . Ms. Jeanpierre ill look, i already said this, and ill just repeat it to you, theres no reason for beijing to turn this visit, which is consistent with longstanding u. S. Policy, into some sort of crisis. There is no reason to do that. We have been very clear, theres no change in our one china policy, which is guided by the taiwan relations act of 1979. That has not changed. And so, look, the United States will not seek and does not want a crisis here. But we are prepared to manage what beijing chooses to do. Reporter and last one about that. Theres a chinese official who says the u. S. Must pay the price for its own mistake, and we mean what we say. When the chinese threaten the u. S. , does the president take them seriously . Ms. Jeanpierre again, the United States will not seek and does not want a crisis. We are prepared to manage what beijing chooses to do. Nothing has changed when it comes to our policies. This was a precedent this was precedent for the speaker to travel to taiwan. That is nothing new. And it changes absolutely nothing when it comes to our one china policy. Im going to go to the back. Go ahead. Reporter i have a taiwan question, and also an afghanistan question. Just following up on peters question, with the pla encircling taiwan, does the white house have a counterstrategy . Do you have plans to counter this . Ms. Jeanpierre im not im not going to lay out or go lay out any of our, you know any of our intelligence or National Security information from here. Reporter how about the punitive economic and cyber measures that beijing is imposing on taipei . Ms. Jeanpierre i missed the first part. Reporter i said, how about the punitive economic and cyber measures that beijing has imposed on taipei . Is the u. S. Prepared to help taiwan there . Ms. Jeanpierre again, im not going to go further with what i just said. There is no reason for for beijing to use this trip, which is a precedented trip, as a pretext for a crisis. This is there is theres no change to our policies, ive said, as many of my colleagues have said from here and also on many of your networks and in some of your publications. Nothing has changed here. Reporter and then, on afghanistan, given that the leader of the Haqqani Network is, you know, a wanted terrorist, does the u. S. Plan to put them on a counter on a wanted list or target members of the Haqqani Network in afghanistan . Ms. Jeanpierre i kirby got this question yesterday. I dont have anything more to add on the Haqqani Network. Reporter a followup on afghanistan, please . Ms. Jeanpierre peter, do you have something . Reporter if i can, can i ask you, karine, families are telling us months later that theyre still seeing limited or at least little to no improvement in their access to baby formula, and Market Research shows that shortages remain right now. So, to those families, has the administration done enough to solve this problem . Ms. Jeanpierre so, as you know, this is priority for us. We understand what families are going through caregivers, moms and dads, you know, grandparents. And we have we have done we have done you know, we have done the work, and well continue to do the work to make sure that families have safe baby formula so that they can feed their kids. This is continues to be a priority for us. This has not gone away. And we do understand that this theres a lot more work to do. But we want families to know and understand this is an administration that cares about them, that cares about the safety of their children, and were going to continue to do the work. Reporter so they recognize that the administration cares, its a point that you guys have made before. But what do you say to those families, though, when right now the shortage rate, according to data, is between the out of stock rate is somewhere between 20 and 30 . So when will it be resolved . Ms. Jeanpierre look, were doing the work every day. It doesnt stop. Were working with the agencies who are involved. Thats why we were able to do the dpa. That was an important move that the president signed on to so we can be make sure that we get more production out there on more baby formula on the shelves. We did, you know, the we did the partnership with the department of defense to make sure we were able to do these flyin baby formulas with relationships that we had abroad. And so, that has helped. That actually brought up what we were seeing on the shelves. But we understand that theres more work to do, and well continue to do that work. We have laid out the steps that we have taken. We have made announcements after announcements. Im happy to, once i if i can get that to you and we are happy to share where we are in how we have improved production. But we understand. We get that theres more work to do, and were going to continue to do that work. All right, go ahead. Reporter thanks, karine. People in southeastern kentucky are still digging out from the devastating floods they had last week. I know the president is isolating right now because he has covid, but once that isolation is over, does he have any plans to go and see this damage for himself . Ms. Jeanpierre you know, i dont have any travel to announce of the president at this time. As you just said, hes still isolating. I do have an announcement to make or some something to share about an announcement that was made today, the department of health and Human Services, secretary becerra, declared a Public Health emergency for the commonwealth of kentucky, which gives the centers for medicare and Medicaid Services beneficiaries and their Healthcare Providers and suppliers greater flexibility in meeting Emergency Health needs. We are doing everything that we can with fema and other agencies across the administration to be as help to be helpful to the state of kentucky. And, again, ive said this before, but our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and just lost so much in this period of time. Reporter but is a president ial trip there something thats even being considered . Is that something the president wants to do . Ms. Jeanpierre well, as you know, he went to kentucky when i believe it was a tornado that happened gosh, last year. And he visited kentucky at that time. I remember traveling with him, and it was a devastating aftermath of what happened to the state. I we just dont have anything to share with you at this time. Ok. Im going to try to go around here. Go ahead. Reporter the president is on his fourth full day of isolation from his rebound case. If he continues to test positive after he completes five full days, will he continue to isolate . Ms. Jeanpierre i would have to check to see exactly what the cdc guidance is, but we are going to follow cdc guidance. It but one thing i do have to say is cdc recommendations for rebounds there are no cdc recommendations as it relates to testing and as it relates to travel. But we have been following the five day of isolation. We added to our protocol, as we do here at the white house, because of the unique situation and the unique jobs that we all have here and making sure that we keep everyone safe. We added the two a negative test in order for him to in order for many of us to come back to work. As far as, you know, beyond that, i would just have to make sure i check with the cdc guidance, but we will continue to follow that. Reporter and like you said, the cdc doesnt call for people with covid to test negative before, on a rapid antigen test, to end their isolation. Considering it seems to have been helpful in President Bidens case, is that something that the white house would like the cdc to urge americans to do, to factor in antigen testing or for americans to model his behavior . Ms. Jeanpierre so we leave it honestly, we leave it to the experts. That is for the experts, and they follow the science, which changes on this. This is you know, this is covid, as we know, a onceinageneration pandemic. So we leave it to them to make that decision. Ok. Go ahead. Reporter as you know, the mckinney fire in Northern California has killed, you know, four people. Im just wondering, has the administration have been in touch with california officials . What federal resources have been brought to bear there . Ms. Jeanpierre yeah, so we have been in touch with state and local officials in california. Were continuing to, you know, closely monitor the wildfires raging throughout the western United States. And the president has also been receiving regular updates. Even as hes in the white house residence, hes working every day. Ill say this to the folks in that region, our hearts go out to the people who have been impacted by these extreme weather conditions, including those who may have lost their homes or businesses to what has become californias biggest fire so far this summer. More than 2500 personnel and firefighters are on the Ground Fighting the fire. And fema has been there very quickly, approved additional Grant Funding to help california pay for the cost of fighting the fire. We also continue to take steps to make communities more resilient to extreme weather events like wildfires, including through the 2. 3 billion in fema funds that President Biden announced last week to help communities increase resilience to heat waves, drought, wildfires, food, hurricanes, and other hazards. Im going to go way to the back. Go ahead, owen. Reporter karine, thanks. Good afternoon. Ms. Jeanpierre good afternoon. Reporter i have two questions. Back to the executive order first, from a much different perspective here. Prolife americans dont want their tax dollars paying for abortions. They believe life begins at conception. The Catholic Church teaches life must be protected from conception forward. But this executive order would have medicaid pay for travel expenses for women to get an abortion. So my question, respectfully, please, why does the president want to force prolife americans, including catholics, of which he is one, to subsidize abortion . Ms. Jeanpierre so ill say this, so federal law makes clear doctors must provide women emergency medical care, including Abortion Services, to stabilize women facing and lifethreatening conditions. We are working to ensure that pregnant women whose life and lives are in serious jeopardy receive the care that they need. This is what it is. This is what were trying to do. This is what the president has promised that he would do. But under that same federal law, there are exceptions for moral to your point, owen or religious objections to provide particular medical services. So, nothing in todays eo impacts those exceptions. So there are exceptions there. Reporter and then a quick followup. Catholic bishops say the administration is trying to force doctors and nurses to perform procedures that go against their religious beliefs, including gender transition surgery and abortion. Does the president believe in conscience rights and religious freedom for Healthcare Professionals . Ms. Jeanpierre so, i thought thats what you were asking me in your first question. Its basically the same as i just laid out, which is, like, federal law makes clear that doctors must provide women emergency medical care, including Abortion Services, to stabilize facing health and lifethreatening conditions. As i just stated, under the same law, there are exceptions for moral or religious objections to the question that youre asking me to provide particular medical services. And nothing in the eo impacts those exceptions, so there are exceptions there. And i thought that was the first question that you were asking. Reporter ok. So let me just clear up just one final time again. Going back of the first question, on the medicaid on the proposal to have Medicaid Fund travel expenses for women seeking abortion, how would that not violate hyde if its using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions . Ms. Jeanpierre this eo does not will not violate the Hyde Amendment. It is law, and we follow the law here. I have to go. Its 2 00. Thanks, everybody. Ill see you tomorrow. Reporter thanks, karine. Ms. Jeanpierre thank you. [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2022] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] announcer indian representative Jackie Walorski and three others were killed in a car crash this afternoon. She was traveling with her Communications Director when a car heading in the opposite direction drifted over the lane and struck their vehicle, killing all occupants. The driver of the other vehicle was also killed. Congresswoman will lower ski was in her fifth term representing indianas Second District and was a member of the ways and means committee. Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg tweeted, i am shocked and saddened to hear the tragic death of constant she was also prepared to Work Together where there was Common Ground and she cared deeply about her work. Announcer senators joe manchin and Susan Collins testified on the need to reform the 1887 electoral count act before the senate rules and administration committee. It governs how electoral votes are counted after a president ial election. Watch the hearing tonight at 8 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan. You can also watch on our free global video at, cspan now, or online at cspan. Org. Announcer watching cspans live coverage of the cpac annual conference beginning thursday at 4 30 p. M. Eastern with tv host and political commentator sean hannity. Then a discussion on liz cheney and the january 6 hearing. On friday coverage continues at 11 15 a. M. Eastern with opening comments by mypillow ceo mike lindo, and a speech by texas republican senator ted cruz. Saturday coverage continues at 4 45 with Closing Remarks by former president donald trump. Watch the cpac annual conference, live thursday on cspan, the free cspan now mobile video app, or online at cspan. Org. Announcer next, a democratic primary debate for new yorks 12th congressional district, with representative jerry nadler and carolyn maloney, and activist and lawyer, search patel. This debate is hosted by Spectrum News ny1, and wnyc