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. To be clear, 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. We are all 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, fema 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 universities, community 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. The oval office. Boast about you always talk about your ability to negotiate. Negotiate a deal. Eight 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 senator harris said the officer who shot jacob blake, based on what she has seen, should be charged. Do you believe that and do you feel that the same should be involved in the death of Breonna Taylor . Mr. Biden i think the judicial system should work its way. There is a minimum need to be charged, the officers, 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 the legal requirements and what that calls for, should be investigated and followed through on what needs to be done. Let the judicial system work. 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 standby in case of President Trump had to receive anesthesia and Vice President pence said he did not recall being told that. As Vice President , were you told to be on standby or any kind of special alert when president obama was going in for a medical appointment and any concerns that walter reed visit that President Trump made did not follow prior protocol about president ial visits for medical examinations. Mr. Biden im not going to speculate. Nothing this administration does is normal. Im not being facetious. Who in gods name knows what this is all about . I dont 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 need to immediately be aware of anything, but thats something that might be called for. It wasnt called for. Reporter on your visit to kenosha tomorrow, local democratic officials including the governor had discouraged President Trump from visiting and yesterday, the president of the local naacp said they didnt want to see either candidate visit. Since this is such a sensitive situation. Why is now the right time for you to go to kenosha and what do you hope to accomplish tomorrow . Mr. Biden i have an outstanding call with the governor and dealt with staff because it has been overwhelming requests that i do , because what we want to do is heal, bring people together. Is to doe in going just that, be a positive influence on what is going on, talk about what needs to be done, and start to see if there is the beginning of a mechanism to bring folks together. We have to heal. This is about making sure we move forward. So, i have got advice from city members of the congress, the senate go as well. Meet withoing to Community Leaders as well as Business People and other folks in Law Enforcement and start to talk about what needs to be done. I am not going to tell kenosha what they need to do. Is that the president s current people are going to justat to their corners is 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 together. Thats my purpose in going. Reporter 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 talked 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 to get your message out and be among the voters at speak to them directly . Mr. Biden my message is getting out based on the polling data shows and the millions of people who have watched what i have to say and the circumstance in which i have said it. I would like to get out more. But a president has the responsibility to set the right example how to go out and not go out and not wear a mask and not have large crowds of people not Wearing Masks or being a 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, 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, staff and the like, they are 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. And to do it the right way. Reporter they announced the moderators of the president ial debates. Nbcs kristen welker. Batting cleanup for the last debate. Is there anything that could dissuade you and how have you begun to prepare . Mr. Biden i have begun to prepare by going over what the president has said and multiple lies he has told. What i would love to have is a crawler at the bottom of the screen, a fact checker when we speak. If we wanted to do something. That would make a great, great if everything both of us said was instantly factchecked 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 we have to do is bring this country back and build it back better, and im looking forward to debate. Reporter 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 incite 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 dealing with 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 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 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 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 is your message to these parents and what can you do to help them . Mr. Biden help is on the way. I have laid out a plan for child care, a plan for Early Education as well, so 3, 4, and 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 the middle of 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 the elderly, a parent a husband or wife may be taking care of. As well as making sure those folks are able to get back to work. That is why 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 glaring 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 whether 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 industrialized country in the world that forces people to make that kind of choice. Paydy should be forced to 7 of their income to provide for child care and be able to go to work. This is something that is a major element 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 Daycare Center<