Pool Reports of March 18, 2024

In town pool report #1 - checking in

Good morning from the White House.

President Biden is scheduled to speak at a women's history month reception in the East Room at 11:30 am.

The press briefing is slated to start at 1:30 pm with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

In town pool report #2 - East Room event remarks begin

The pool is gathered in the East Room for President Biden's remarks at a women's history month reception.

Biden's remarks are being live streamed here:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cePtU2MWaOc

President Biden entered at 11:55 am to cheers. Vice President Kamala Harris spoke first.

The East Room is full of mostly women standing and talking to each other between round high tables covered with pink table cloths.

A screen next to the stage flashed up words reading, "Women's History Month" and "Advancing Women's Health".

In town pool report #3 - Netanyahu call

From the White House press office--

"President Biden spoke with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel to discuss the latest developments in Israel and Gaza, including the situation in Rafah and efforts to surge humanitarian assistance to Gaza. A readout of the call is forthcoming."

In town pool report #4 - Harris quote, attendance list for reception

Vice President Harris spoke about the impact of abortion access restrictions in states.

Harris:

"There is so much at stake at this moment and we each face a question, what kind of country do we want to live in. Do we want to live in a country of liberty, freedom and the rule of law or a country of disorder, fear and hate? Each of us has the power to answer that question with our feet and with our vote."

Maria Shriver is currently speaking about the executive order on women's health Biden will sign today.

As a reminder, President Biden's remarks at the reception is being live streamed here:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cePtU2MWaOc

From the White House:

The President is signing an Executive Order on Advancing Women's Health Research and Innovation.

Speaking Program

Vice President Harris
Maria Shriver, Women's Health Advocate
First Lady Jill Biden
The President

Stage Participants

Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Hicks, Department of Defense
Rear Admiral Susan Blumenthal, Women's Health Advocate and former First Lady of California
Director Shalonda Young, Office of Management and Budget
Dr. Monica Bertagnolli, Director, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Renee Wegrzyn, Director, Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health
Dr. Janine Clayton, Director, Office of Research on Women's Health, National Institutes of Health
Dr. Valerie Montgomery Rice, President, Morehouse School of Medicine
Halle Berry, Actress and Women's Health Advocate
Michele Kang, Philanthropist and Women's Health Advocate
Dr. Carolyn Mazure, Chair, White House Initiative on Women's Health Research

Cabinet Attendees

Secretary Xavier Becerra, Department of Health and Human Services
Secretary Deb Haaland, Department of the Interior
Director Shalanda Young, Office of Management and Budget
Ambassador Katherine Tai, U.S. Trade Representative
Administrator Isabel Guzman, Small Business Administration
Director Arati Prabhakar, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

In town pool report #5 - Biden remarks

In his remarks, Biden quoted an Irish poem called Mother Ireland by Eavan Boland. "Now I could tell my story/ It was different/ from the story told about me."

Biden said his administration has focused in women, putting women into leadership position, cited low unemployment among women, increases in loans to small businesses owned by women, action's he taken on gun measures, and the child tax credit.

Biden: "If you want to have the strongest economy in the world, you can't leave half the country behind."

He cited the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe: "Women are not without electoral or political power. No kidding."

Biden:"Reproductive freedom is on the ballot."

He promised to restore Roe v Wade if voters send him back to office with a Democratic House and Senate.

Biden: "Let's rise up, know our power, tell our story."

Biden finished speaking at 12:36 pm.

After speaking, Biden signed the executive order and spoke to people on stage.

Pool was ushered out at 12:41 pm as Biden walked into the crowd to shake hands

Before Biden spoke, First Lady Jill Biden gave remarks. Jill Biden: "We simply don't know enough about how to prevent and detect or treat the conditions that affect women uniquely, disproportionately and differently. For deciades business as ususal has meant understudying and underfunding women's health. Your President believes that is unacceptable."

Biden's remarks were live streamed here:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=cePtU2MWaOc

In town pool report #6 - briefing moved to 2 pm

From the White House press office: The Press Briefing will begin at 2:00 PM.

In town pool report #7 - briefing starting

The White House press briefing started at 2:16 pm. White House Press Secretary Karing Jean-Pierre and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan are briefing today.

In town pool report #8 - briefing ended

The briefing ended at 3:09 pm.

In town pool report #9 - Biden radio interviews

From the White House press office:

Today, President Biden taped two radio interviews: El Genio Lucas with Alex Lucas on Nueva Network and El Bueno, La Mala y El Feo with Raul Molinar on Univision Radio. Both will air tomorrow morning across the shows' affiliates.

In town pool report #10 - lid

The White House called a lid at 5:19 pm.