And jill and i have just been briefed, as you know, in this room by our Public Health and education experts about what it is going to take to be able to reopen schools safely and effectively. Backtoschool has always been a special time. It is in your family and mine, but particularly in mine, all the years jill and i were married, she was going back to school, too, as a teacher. She would be the first one to tell you this should be a season of promise for our country. Times when classrooms are crackling with the possibilities of the new year, students hopes, all about the future. But this year, we are facing the most difficult circumstances. We are seeing a lot of heart and grit from our educators, our students, to try to rise to the occasion. But our government has not come up to that bar. Hasnt shown much grit or determination. If President Trump and his administration had done their jobs early on with this crisis, american schools would be open and open safely. Instead, American Families across this country are paying the price for his failures and his administrations failures. Like many of you, because you are reporters, you have friends, children, youre probably hearing the same thing i have been hearing. They are struggling to figure out how to do the right thing. They are worried. They are worried like the devil. What does it mean for my kids . Is this setting my childs education back beyond just a semester . What impact will it have . How is my child going to catch up . What if i am not doing enough to help my child succeed . All those questions, the selfdoubt has been engaged. President trump may not think this is a national emergency. But i think going back to school, for millions of children and the impacts on families in the community, is a national emergency. I believe that is what it is. Protecting our students, our educators, communities, getting our schools open safely and effectively, this is a national emergency. But President Trump still does not have any real plan for how to open our schools safely. No real plan for how to help parents feel secure for their children. He is offering nothing but failure and delusions, start to finish, American Families and children are paying the price for his failures. Failure to take this virus seriously early on in january, february, as it spread around the globe. Failure to take steps we needed in march and april to get this pandemic under control, to institute widespread testing and tracing to control the spread. Failure to provide clear, national, sciencebased guidelines to state and local authorities. And failure to model even basic responsibility like socially distancing and wearing a mask. And failure to make sure educators and administrators have the equipment, resources, and training needed to open safely under circumstances we find now. Donald trump and betsy devos have not stepped up. Seeing the results. Millions of students are starting a new school year in the same way they finished the last one, at home. At home. Parents are doing their best, but more and more are finding themselves at wits end, struggling to balance work, childcare, and education duties. Or worrying about their loss paycheck and how they will make ends meet while trying to keep their kids on track with Remote Learning. Educators are taking on countless hours of additional training to learn how to use Remote Learning tools so they can still be there for their students, but they are worried about all the kids who used to count on our schools. All those children who needed so badly, particularly those who need more than education. They provide meals and safe places to spend the day. You now, we are all concerned about making sure covid19 doesnt further exacerbate disparities, the disparities that already have existed in our educational system. For so many poor children, so many communities of color, it is unacceptable. And it cannot go on like this. We all want our schools to reopen safely. With a plan that Prioritizes Health of students and educators and staff. I laid out my plans back in june and july, a roadmap for how to reopen safely and effectively. You can read them by going to joebiden. Com. We need straightforward, commonsense solutions. But trump refuses to act, starving schools of the needed funding, funding they need now. Now they needed it beginning of the summer. Now trumps fema director is cutting schools loose. Just yesterday fena announced, after helping three districts i think it was three they will not help pay for cloth masks, ppe for school settings, cleaning. Those basic health needs. Sanitizing everything from laboratories to classrooms. And safety costs for school that do not qualify for Emergency Assistance. This is an emergency, mr. President. This is an emergency. And donald trump and his fema should treat it as one. If i were president today, i would direct fema to make sure our kids k12 get full access to Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance under the stafford act. I would make sure ppe and sanitation supplies qualify as emergency protective measures, which is a phrase they use, to fully be eligible for federal assistance. On top of that, i would be working with the leaders of congress now, today, to pass emergency packages for schools so they would have resources they need in order to be able to open safely. Money for ventilation. I heard that a lot when i have those healthcare experts up on the zoom. Money for ventilation and other health measures, but also more money to hire more teachers. Every recommendation we got was they should be divided into pods, smaller classes. Smaller classes mean more educators are needed. Keeping classes socially distanced, small. Money for more psychologists and counselors. I introduced legislation a long time ago calling for i proposed legislation a long time ago we have one School Psychologist every 1507 children in the school. And the health care, the Mental Health our children need now. The anxiety they are feeling at home, going to school, not being able to go to school. The nations superintendents of schools have estimated they need at least 200 billion to support k12 schools throughout the year for safe reopening. We need the money to hire educators as well for our fouryear colleges and communityes, colleges, hbcus, minority serving institutions. Democratic leaders are ready to get this done. They have already proposed legislation. Mr. President , where are you . Where are you . Why arent you working on this . We need Emergency Support support funding for schools and we need it now. Mr. President , that is your job. That is your job. That is what you should be focused on now. Getting our kids back to school safely, keeping schools safely able to remain open once they open. Not whipping up fear and division, not inciting violence in our streets. Get off twitter, and Start Talking to the congressional leaders from both parties. Invite them to the oval office. And stop fice. Your boast about being not that you can do anything. You talk about your ability to negotiate. Negotiate a deal. A deal for somebody other than yourself. Now im happy to take questions you may have. I guess staff is going to call on whoever, fire away. Thank you, mr. Vice president. Two quick questions for you if i may. Ahead of your trip to kenosha, wisconsin, your running mate said the officer who shot jacob blake based on what he has seen should be charged and do you believe and you feel that the same should be involved in the death of Breonna Taylor . Mr. Bridenstine i think the judicial system should work its way. And the officers should be charged as well as in Breonna Taylor. I think what happened in portland where one of the trump guys riding along in vans and shooting rubber bullets or paint balls and someone was shot by someone in the crowd with a bullet, killed. I think that person should meet and what requirements should be followed through what needs to be done. Lets make sure justice is done. Quickly on a different topic there is a new book by New York Times that said when President Trump made a visit to walter reed, Vice President pence was told to be on stand by in case of President Trump had to receive anesthesia and Vice President pence. As Vice President were you told to be on stand by or any kind of special alert when president obama was going in for a medical pointment and any concerns that it didnt follow prior protocol . Vicepresident biden im not going to speculate. Nothing this administration does is normal. Im not being faseachous. Who in gods name knows what this is all about. I dont know know. And im not going to speculate. I will let the experts do that. And so the only time that i have been on notice is when the president is out of the country and im in the country, not that i should wait for something that i immediately hub aware of anything, but thats something that might be called for. T wasnt called for. On your visit to kenosha tomorrow, local officials discouraged President Trump from visiting and yesterday, the president of the local n arch a crmp p said they didnt want to see either candidate visit. Why is now the right time for what doo to kenosha and you hope to accomplish tomorrow . Vicepresident biden i have an outstanding call with the governor and dealt with staff because it has been overwhelming requests that i do come because what we are doing is we have to heal and bring people together. My purpose in going to be a positive influence on whats going on, talk about what needs to be done and try to see if there is a mechanism to bring the folks together. We have to heal. This is about making sure that we move forward. And so, i have gotten advice from sitting members of the congress and senate as well to go and that i should go and im not going to do anything other than meet meeting with Community Leaders as well as Business People and other folks in Law Enforcement and to see start to talk what has to be done. Im not going to tell kenosha what has to be done but we do together. The dea we are saying that president says retreat to their corners and keep this moving is just a mistake. I spent my whole life including this city, bringing people together and bringing people and Police Officers together and Business Leaders and Civic Leaders and thats my purpose in going. The fact that you are traveling to wisconsin at all, this is only the third time in the last few months that you will be on a plane. You have talkt about how you want to make sure you follow the advice of your doctors in terms of campaigning safely but the question is why arent you out there more. The president was calling your Campaign Schedule today . How are you willing to push it and speak to the voters directly . Vicepresident biden my message is getting out based on the polling data shows and what i have said and the circumstances in which i have said it. But i would like to get out more. But a president has the responsibility to set the right example how to go out and not wear a mask and not have large crowds of people not Wearing Masks or ar call dron for significant outbreaks of covid. And so what i have done is i have met with the via what i did this morning with the medical experts. And so, we have worked out a protocol how i get in the plane, what kind of a plane, how it is sanitized and how i engage people like i engage with all of you. It is always at a safe distance and everyone is Wearing Masks and vast majority of people im meeting with have come into my home and all tested as well. Im just trying to set the example and wearing the protective gear, a mask, which i have with me. Im able at this distance to take it off, number one. Number two, make sure we proceed in with social distancing. They announced the moderateors and kristen welker. Is there anything that could dissuade you and how have you begun to prepare . Vicepresident biden im going over what the president has said and multiple lies he has told. What i would love to have is a fact checker at the bottom of the screen if we wanted to do something. That would make a great, great debate if both of us said was instantly fact checked by an agreedto group of people. But that probably wouldnt get far in the debate. Im looking forward to debating the president and im going to lay out as clearly as i can what i think what we have to do is bring this country back and bring it back better and im looking forward to debate. Thank you, mr. Vice president. One of the things that i have heard a lot from voters is that a lot of them are worried and concerned about the ongoing violence including the situation in kenosha, wisconsin. Im curious, you are not president now but donald trump is, but if you were president , what would you do to ensure that people are kept safe . First of all, i wouldnt in cite violence and condemn it when it occurs. The vast majority of Police Officers are good, honest, decent men and women. They have the right to go home that night safely, the vast majority. But just those who are not good cops, all the police i have dealt with my whole life and i have been i have gotten overwhelming support from Law Enforcement throughout my whole career. They want to get rid of the bad cops because it reflects bad on them. Number two, i would make sure that any violence, any violence, protesting is a right and free speech is a right. But to engage in violence, burning, looting and the rest in the name of protesting is wrong. And the person pes should be held accountable for their actions. And so what i would be doing i would be bringing people together in the white house right now and having that Police Commission set up and Law Enforcement at the table and have the community at the table and have people and saying, how do we get through this . Because i believe the vast majority of the community at large as well as Law Enforcement want toll straighten things out, not inflame things. But this president keeps throwing gasoline on the fire every place he goes. I noticed i didnt watch much of it but i watched all the reports from all of you, from the press, and you know, when he was asked what should be done with regard to a young man shot in the back seven times times in front of his children, i didnt hear anything. And went on down the line. I wish he would take responsibility. As much as he would like to be running against somebody else, he is running against me, joe biden and the fact he is not acting very responsibly. , you have president outlined your plan to reopen schools safely but what happens in the interim. Right now, millions of parents are facing this very Impossible Task of trying to work fulltime and help their children fulltime to learn virtually. What are your message to these parents and what can you do to help them . Vicepresident biden i have laid out a plan for child care, a plan for Early Education as well so three, four, fiveyearolds are in school. But im not president right now. What we should be doing is providing for more help for people who are in fact trying to juggle the choice between do i stay home with my three, four, fiveyearold and take care of them in this covid problem or do i go to work or earn a salary. What do i do . I have a Major Initiative to deal with child care and elder care so people can be paid to take care of children as well as wife mayly, husband or be taking care of as well as making sure those folks are able to get back to work. And focusing on Day Care Centers and making sure they are safe and healthy now are as equally important as dealing with schools. And we should be providing all of the p. P. E. And all of the safety that is necessary to allow them to open. Hundreds have been opened because some states have gone in and done that. There should be universal guidance coming from the president of the United States of america and should be basic standards to how, in fact and what circumstance you can open a safely a day care or Child Care Center. The idea that this has brought home a number of demraring problems we have in america, this whole pandemic and what has happened in terms of jobs. The idea that we are in a situation where we have so many parents who have to make the difficult choice as a single parent or both working parents to decide one gives up their salary and stay home with a child under the age of five or six and or leaves them with somebody that is not particularly qualified and goes to work so they can earn a living is a choice we shouldnt be making. We are the most strilized ountry in the world. And be able to go to work. This is something that is a major of my build back better program. In the meantime, the most important thing to be done is have c. D. C. Issue straightforward guidelines under what circumstances you should be able to open up your Day Care Center or Child Care Center now. And there should be clear standards and states should have the wherewithal to go out and inspect those facilities now. But one thing i havent mentioned and warrants mentioning, you know, one of the things we did, remember when we inherited the Great Recession and we were going into the tank heading off the cliff heading into a depression, i was able to change three republicans vote and ended up with the recovery act which spent 800 billion. What did we do . We spent billions of dollars making sure that states were able to maintain their essential workers. Everyone from the fire department, their school teachers, their doctors, nurses, public hospitals. Now whats happening . This Republican Administration will not support that and the Republican Leadership in the United States senate will not support it. So whats happening . We dont have that help. Its not out here and states are in real trouble and to quote mitch mcconnell, he said let the states go bankrupt. States have to balance their budgets under the law. There is a reason why the federal government is able to run a deficit, to compensate in times of real economic crisis. And whats happening . Nothing. Nothing. And guess what . We came out of that recession with the longest spurt of Economic Growth of any administration in american history. But these guys i could go on. Businesses, look at the money that was passed under the cares act for businesses. Small businesses to be able to stay open. We have tens of thousands going out of business. Why . Because the money didnt get to small businesses. They are not open. We should be dealing with those businesses that have been burnt out and damaged. We should be providing federal help for those businesses to get back on their feet. This administration seems to think its going to go away like angel dust is going to be spread around. I just dont get it. They have to know better. They have to know better. And we had an example in the last administration how much good you can do and how much growth can you general rate. I dont get these guys. Not a joke. I have been doing this a long time but never seen a president lack in leadership and unwilling to make a deal and im told the reason they cant get anything done in the Republican Congress is 20 members of the United States senate saying under no circumstances will they raise the deficit at all. Thats wonderful. And we are in a position right now. Look at other countries, doing one hell of a lot better and up o 186,000 people dead, 6 million 300,000 that have contracted the disease. Its just irresponsible. Talk about a nonothing congress on the republican side. Nonothing president. I dont get it. I dont get it. Its going to change come january, god willing. What do you say to the teachers that are afraid to return to the classroom even if the protocols you propose are in place . I understand their concern because some teachers have preexisting conditions because if they were to contract covid19 that they would be susceptible to be in real trouble. It is understanding why they are doing it. But the first thing to do is to make sure that all the protective capacity that we have available to us is made available and then make choices about whether or not let the districts make choices about whether or not they open fully and rotate and whether or not those teachers are able to teach from home and Remote Learning. But its really understandable. Look, look at what has happened in this covid crisis so far. 100,000 people have died who are above the age of 65. 180,000. Ome out of the the estimates range up to significant universities, one is going to be as many as 239 and other one said 312. I dont know that, but its going to go higher. So i just dont understand why its a political problem. What is the politics about not being willing to go in and help provide the protective capacity for people to be able to go back to work and go to school. I cant fathom it. Thank you, mr. Vice president. You talked today about reopening schools. I want to ask you about something you said last week, the potential of having to shut down the economy again. You were asked if you were going to shut it down if your Health Experts proposed and you said you would listen to the scientists. How you would do that at a federal level and how you would balance that call to shutdown if your economic advisers saying, if you do it again, you could plunge the country into a deeper economic crisis. Well, look, i have been saying this since last january. The idea that you are able to get the economy back on track without getting covid under control is completely counterintuitive, its not there and cant have it. Unless we are able to deal with the disease and drastically its impact on peoples confidence to either go to work or walk into a business or do business, then it doesnt matter a lot. There is going to be no need in my view to shut down the whole economy. If i was asked to shut everything down, i took that as a generic question if im going to follow the science. I am going to insist and insist now without any authority that every responsible person in this country when they are out in public or not the cohort they have lived with because they have been spreading to their wife or husband, that they wear a mask and wear a mask. You can take the mask off when you are 12, 15 feet away. I would follow, i would really make the case and by the way, when i find these folks talking about my freedom, i talk about patriotism. Why do you wear a mask . To protect your neighbor, to keep someone else from getting sick and maybe dying. I call that patriotic. This is the United States of america. Every generation has made sacrifices to help others in moments of cries sees. You suggest there would be some kind of federal mandate about masks . Vicepresident biden no. No. What i suggested was, i would ask every person in authority, theres a question whether the president under the constitution could mandate that everyone could wear a mask. During the primary people were telling me im a constitutionalist. You cant do things that the constitution doesnt allow you to do. I will put pressure on every governor, every mayor, county executive and local official and everyone in business to put pressure on them to say what you are doing is irresponsible. Make sure you wear a mask and maintain social distancing. Nd the vast majority of people know that. You raised a monthly. How are you going to spend it . Vicepresident biden you want to go to dinner . [laughter] vicepresident biden what im having to spend a lot of it on is counter the lies that are trumps by my campaign and a new p. A. C. But im trying to spend most of that i think the average contribution was like 40 bucks. We have over 1 million 600,000 people who contributed, between 5, 10, 15 dollars. There is enthusiasm about wanting to make sure that we become president of the United States. And so what i will spend most of it doing is trying to explain to the American People how i want to unite the county and what i want to do to make the country better and why im so confident we can do it and bring the country together and be in a better position than before this crisis occurred, because there has been so many fissures exposed as a consequence of what happened, and people are saying i didnt know that people in that circumstance didnt have that kind of help. So we have an enormous opportunity to bring the country together. And once again, lead the world. You heard me say it 100 times not just by example of power but power of example. Thank you. Indiscernible] vicepresident biden marvelous job, doing a great job. When it got up to march, i kept saying, look you remember i was the first, person calling about the defense production act. We dont have its amazing, we use a phrase like p. P. E. , but protective equipment and gear and ventilators. Use that authority now and dont wait and dont wait to talk about us the need to have masks. Thats what i talked about and i begun to lay up we actually had a conversation. Maybe it was march, april, in that range and he said biden wants to help. So i talked to him and laid out what i thought should be done to reopen safely and he was very polite and listened and said he would think about it and that was the end of it. So what i would begin to become really clear is that as the science began to show that this was able to spread much more easily than people thought. Was the pandemic coming and whats the most way that did the most damage. As that became clearer and clearer. We concluded we cant continue to have these large rallies. Here we are, rest of the world places have gone extremely well in terms of dealing with this covid crisis around the world. You know, we have the five largest countries in europe have a population larger than the United States of america, yet, in the month of august, losing 1,000 lives a day and losing 57 a day, all of them, combined. Combined. As we learn more and did learn more and why by march and april, we knew a whole heck of a lot more, why werent we doing what needed to be done . Why are we being told we have plenty of protective gear. And one big thing that i did push a lot on was on the need for testing and tracing and moving rapidly to make sure that you had the capacity to test and trace before it got so out of control. We need to do that now. But heres the thing and i end with this and i apologize for keeping you [indiscernible] [laughter] vicepresident biden the thing that i just dont quite understand is when its clear that some of the things that the president says are simply not. Ue relating to this crisis and when enormous pressure is put on professionals in the administration from the c. D. C. O n. I. H. Across the board, why do we think god willing when we get a vaccine that is good, works, why do we think the public is going to line up to be able to be willing to take the injection . He has lost so much confidence in the American People in whats said because they are finding out again today, plasma, well, it doesnt work out. Hell of a lot of pressure put on that person who sold it. This president has sold so many things that are untrue, that are just wrong. In order to do anything, he looks at it in one way, if the stock market is high and its moving and we are reducing the number of people who are in real trouble economically, it doesnt matter what i say, thats the objective. Thats the objective. The objective is to keep the American People safe so we can begin to get back to normal and rebuilding our economy and bringing back Economic Growth. Thank you all very much. Captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org watch live coverage on cspan. Watch Live Streaming and on demand at cspan. Org or the free cspan radio app. Earlier today President Trump delivered remarks. This is 15 minutes
vimarsana.com © 2020. All Rights Reserved.