US Executive Branch Update – April 20, 2022

This report provides a snapshot of the US Executive Branch priorities via daily schedules and the prior day’s press releases.

POTUS’ Schedule*

10:15 a.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT receives the President’s Daily Brief | Oval Office

4:00 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT meets with the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Combatant Commanders | Cabinet Room

5:30 p.m. ET – THE PRESIDENT and THE FIRST LADY host a dinner for the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Combatant Commanders, and their spouses | Blue Room

Looking Ahead: The President will visit Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, April 21; he will visit Seattle, Washington, on Friday, April 22.

VPOTUS’ Schedule*

The Vice President is in California this week.  The White House did not release the Vice President’s schedule for Wednesday.

Looking Ahead: On Thursday, the Vice President is set to deliver remarks about the maternal health crisis, after a tour of a health care facility at the University of California San Francisco, a part of her focus on Black maternal health care.

White House Press Briefing Schedule*

3:00 p.m. ET – Press Briefing by Press Secretary Jen Psaki | James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

*The US President (POTUS) and Vice President’s (VPOTUS) daily schedules are subject to change, as is the White House press briefing schedule.

Recap of Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Note: Bold hyperlinks spotlight COVID-19 developments.

The White House

• Remarks by President Biden on Investments in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | New Hampshire
• Report on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root causes of Migration in Central America
• Fact Sheet: Update on the U.S. Strategy for Addressing the Root Causes of Migration in Central America
• Statement by NSC Spokesperson Adrienne Watson on U.S. Consultations with Australia, Japan, and New Zealand in Honolulu
• Readout of White House Meeting on Reproductive Health and Rights with State Legislators from Missouri, Nebraska, and Oklahoma
• Transcript: Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Jen Psaki, April 19, 2022
• Readout of the President’s Call with Allies and Partners
• Bills Signed into Law:
  • H.R. 3197, the “Save the Liberty Theater Act of 2021,” which directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the City of Eunice, Louisiana, by quitclaim deed and without consideration, all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to specified parcels of land; and
  • H.R. 5681, the “Shadow Wolves Enhancement Act,” which authorizes U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reclassify officers assigned to the tactical patrol unit on Tohono O’odham Nation land, commonly known as Shadow Wolves, as ICE special agents.

Department of Defense (DOD)

• Transcript: Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby Holds a Press Briefing
• Article: DOD | U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine Provides What’s Needed, as Needed
• Transcript: Senior Defense Officials Hold a Background Briefing, April 19, 2022
• Article: DOD Official Describes How Security Assistance Gets to Ukraine
• Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III’s Call With Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles
• Remarks by Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Kathleen H. Hicks on the New U.S. Commitment Not to Conduct Destructive Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite Missile Testing at Vandenberg Space Force Base (As Prepared)
• Contracts for April 19, 2022

U.S. National Guard

• Press Release: Wisconsin Army Guard unit returns from Eastern Europe
• Press Release: New York’s 109th Airlift Wing preps for Greenland missions
• Press Release: Norway, Minnesota Guard celebrate 49th troop exchange
• Press Release: Airmen lead way in F-35 transition for 115th Fighter Wing

U.S. Navy

• Press Release: Coalition Task Force Completes Exercise Sentinel Shield

U.S. Marine Corps

• Press Release: Camp Pendleton Takes Big Step Toward Wildlife Preservation

U.S. Air Force

• Press Release: Spark Tank idea comes to life through AFRL engineers

Department of State

U.S. Secretary Antony Blinken is on travel to Panama from April 19-20.

Western Hemisphere

• April 19: Readout | Secretary Blinken’s Meeting with Panamanian President Cortizo and Foreign Minister Mouynes
• April 19: Statement | The United States and Panama Advance Migration Cooperation
• April 19: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Transparency International Panama Chapter Executive Director Olga de Obaldía Opening Remarks at Meeting with Anticorruption and Transparency Advocates
• April 19: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Opening Remarks at the Ministerial Conference on Migration and Protection Reception
• April 19: Remarks | Secretary Antony J. Blinken at a Meet and Greet for Embassy Staff | Panama

Europe

• April 19: Advisory | Deputy Secretary Sherman to Participate in a Conversation Hosted by Friends of Europe (April 21)

Middle East, Near East

• April…