Pool Reports of October 4, 2021

Travel pool report #1 - Checking in

Good Monday morning from Wilmington, Del., where the pool is awaiting President Biden's departure under partly cloudy skies and temperatures of 70 degrees F. The pool received Covid-19 tests earlier this morning ahead of the president's return to Washington.

Here's a rundown of Monday's schedule, via the White House:

9:35 AM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY depart Wilmington, Delaware en route Joint Base Andrews
Delaware Air National Guard Base
Out-of-Town Pool

10:00 AM In-Town Pool Call Time

10:10 AM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at Joint Base Andrews
Joint Base Andrews
Out-of-Town Pool

10:30 AM THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY arrive at the White House
South Lawn
Open Press and Pooled for TV (Gather 10:15 AM – Palm Room Doors)

11:15 AM THE PRESIDENT delivers remarks on the need to raise the debt ceiling, after Senate Republicans voted twice last week to default
State Dining Room
In-House Pool and Pre-Credentialed Media (Gather 11:00 AM – Palm Room Doors) [RSVP here by 9:00 AM]

Briefing Schedule

1:00 PM Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki

Travel pool report #2 - Leaving residence

President Biden's motorcade departed his Wilmington residence at 9:06 a.m. ET. The pool's bus has joined the motorcade and we are now rolling.

We will be flying back to JBA on Air Force One. The president traveled to Wilmington Saturday aboard Marine One; the press pool arrived unilaterally in Delaware Saturday aboard an Osprey.

More TK.

Travel pool report #3 - Airport departure

President Biden's motorcade arrived at the Delaware Air National Guard Base at 9:15 a.m. after an uneventful ride from his home.

The president, joined by first lady Jill Biden, exited the Beast and did not stop to speak to media under the wing.

The Bidens walked up the stairs to Air Force One, the president waved and then entered the aircraft.

At 9:18 a.m., we are wheels up shortly for the roughly 35-minute flight to Joint Base Andrews.

Traveling with the President and the First Lady to the White House:

Daleep Singh, Deputy Assistant to the President & Deputy National Security Advisor and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council
Ashley Williams, Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director of Oval Office Operations
Jordan Montoya, Director of Advance and Trip Director for the First Lady

Travel pool report #4 - JBA

Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews at 9:51 a.m. The pool did not have any visitors during the short 30-minute flight from Delaware.

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden held hands as they walked down the staircase from Air Force One at 9:58 a.m.

The president, dressed in a dark suit, blue dress shirt and red tie, was carrying an iPhone in his right hand. He did not stop to speak to reporters. Dr. Biden was wearing a blue jacket and a light blue print dress. Both were wearing black face masks.

The Bidens paused briefly to speak with Col. William "Chris" McDonald, Vice Commander, 89th Airlift Wing and his wife, Diana. The four walked together and then the Bidens boarded Marine One.

Marine One lifted off at 10:05 a.m. en route to the White House.

Now handing over to the In-town pool. Thanks all.

In-town pool report #1: Arrival

Good morning,

Marine One at 10:15 am.

POTUS and FLOTUS walked hand-in-hand into the White House, without stopping to answer shouted questions about the debt limit.

He is scheduled to speak on the topic at 11:15.

In-town pool report #2: Two minute warning until remarks

Pool is gathered in the State Dining Room for the president's remarks for the "need to raise the debt ceiling, after Senate Republicans voted twice last week to default." The remarks will be broadcast live on the White House's live stream website.

In-town pool report #3: Remarks over

POTUS took several questions before exiting the room at 12:03 p.m.

In-town pool report#4: Lunch lid til 2

The briefing is now at 2.

In-town pool report #5: Briefing is now at 2:30 pm

And the lunch lid is extended until then.

In-town pool report #6: Briefing begins

Jen Psaki took the podium at 2:38 p.m.

In-town pool report #7: Briefing ends

The briefing ended at 3:29 pm.

In-town pool report #8: Lid

Travel/photo lid was called at 3:57 PM. Nighty.

In-town pool report #9: Background for Michigan trip

From the WH:

The below memo was shared with tomorrow's out-of-town pool ahead of the President's visit to Howell, Michigan tomorrow.

BACKGROUND MEMORANDUM

TO: Out-of-Town Travel Pool
FROM: White House Press Office
DATE: October 4, 2021

RE: Background on IIJA and BBB for the President's Visit to Michigan

Impact of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act on Michigan

The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will make a generational investment in Michigan's infrastructure and resilience.

Roads and Bridges:

• In Michigan there are 1,219 bridges and over 7,300 miles of highway in poor condition.
• Infrastructure is a key priority for Governor Whitmer. As Governor, she launched the "Rebuilding Michigan Program," a 5-year program to rebuild state highways and bridges. The program is estimated to create 22,000 good-paying union construction jobs this year alone.
• Based on formula funding alone, Michigan will receive $7.3 billion for federal-aid highways and $563 million for bridges.

Public Transportation:

• Michiganders who take public transportation spend an extra 68% of their time commuting. 17% of transit vehicles in the state are past useful life.
• Based on formula funding alone, Michigan will receive $1 billion to improve public transportation options.

Electric Vehicles (EVs):

• Governor Whitmer has made it a priority make Michigan a leader in electric vehicles. She recently announced a number of proposals to expand EV charging along key travel routes across the state.
• Michigan will expect to receive $110 million over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state.

High-Speed Internet:

• 14% of Michigan households do not have an internet subscription.
• Michigan will receive a minimum allocation of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across the state, including providing access to the 398,000 Michiganders who currently lack it.

Water:

• Delivering clean water is a key priority for Governor Whitmer. Last year she launched MI Clean Water, a $500 million investment to rebuild water infrastructure to provide clean, affordable water to communities.
• Michigan would expect to receive $1.3 billion to improve water infrastructure in the state.

Resilience:

• From 2010 to 2020, Michigan experienced 19 extreme weather events.
• The bill includes a $50 billion national investment in resilience to strengthen our infrastructure for the impacts of climate change.

Impact of the Build Back Better Agenda on Michigan

The Build Back Better agenda will make life better for millions of working families in Michigan.

Child Care:

• The average two-parent household spends $10,400 to care for just one young child every year.
• The Build Back Better plan cuts child care costs by more than half for most low- and middle-income Michigan and improves quality of child care.

Universal Pre-K:

• Less than a third of 3- and 4-year-olds in Michigan are enrolled in publicly-funded pre-school.
• The plan will provide free, high-quality pre-school to all 3- and 4-year-olds in Michigan.

Tax Cut for Families with Children and Childless Workers:

• Nearly 230,000 children in Michigan (11% of those under the age of 18) are considered poor.
• The plan's Child Tax Credit extension will benefit nearly 2 million children in Michigan, reducing child poverty by 44%.
• Before the American Rescue Plan, low-income childless workers were taxed into poverty.
• Theplan's expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit for childless workers will benefit more than 570,000 workers in Michigan.

Higher Education:

• The average cost of a 2-year degree in Michigan is $4,000 per year.
• The plan provides at least two years of free community college to all students and expands the maximum Pell Grant by nearly $1,500, supporting the 174,000 students in Michigan who rely on Pell for their education.

Housing:

• 514,000 Michiganders spend more than 30% of their income on rent.
• The plan will bolster affordable and resilient housing, supporting the construction or rehabilitation of more than two million homes, including 31,000 new or preserved rental homes in Michigan through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit.

Child Nutrition:

• 16% of children in Michigan live in food insecure households.
• The plan will expand access to free school meals to an additional 243,000 students and provide 832,000 students with resources to purchase food over the summer.