Monday, Dec. 5
á
The Supreme Court heard arguments in the case
of the Colorado graphic designer who refuses to create websites for LGTBQ
customers, citing her first amendment right to free speech is being violated by
the stateÕs law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
á The Department of Homeland Security extended the deadline for REAL ID enforcement another two years. The new deadline is May 7, 2025, due to circumstances relating to COVID-19.
Tuesday,
Dec.6
á
President Joe Biden released a
proclamation honoring the memories of the 2403 service members who died in the
attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, that led to the U.S.Õ formal entry into
World War II.
á
Vice President Kamala Harris met President Maia
Sandu of Moldova at the White House. The Vice
President welcomed MoldovaÕs progress on its reform agenda and reaffirmed U.S.
support for Moldovan energy security and self-defense.
á
At the International
Anti-Corruption Conference in Washington, National Security Advisor Jake
Sullivan delivered introductory remarks highlighting world changes since the
previous Summit in 1983: ÒThat was the year of the first mobile phone. It
was the year that the actual official ÒInternetÓ came on to the scene. It was
the year the United States launched our second Space Shuttle into orbit. It was
a year when we glimpsed but did not fully grasp just how integrated our world
was going to become.Ó
á
Biden spoke at the TSMC
semiconductor plant in Phoenix, Arizona, detailing his vision for U.S.
manufacturing.
á
The Biden-Harris
Administration announced the first Federal
Building Performance Standard, setting a goal to cut energy use and
electrify equipment and appliances in 30% of the building space owned by the
federal government by 2030. These actions are the latest step in pursuit of
BidenÕs goal of achieving net-zero emissions in all federal buildings by 2045.
á
The U.S. Department
of Energy announced a proposed rulemaking to cut emissions in new federal
buildings and federal buildings undergoing major renovations. Because the
federal government is the countryÕs single largest energy consumer and building
manager, these new actions will save taxpayer dollars by reducing energy use
while cutting millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions, increasing
resilience, strengthening U.S. energy independence, and growing the jobs of the
future in America.
Wednesday, Dec. 7
á
Democrats secure a 51-49 Senate
majority with Senator Raphael WarnockÕs run-off win in Georgia.
á
An auction for five off-shore wind farms off CaliforniaÕs coast netted $757.1
million, the funds headed for the U.S. TreasuryÕs general fund. The auction was
the third wind lease sale this year and the first in the Pacific. The White House has committed to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
á
The White House
concluded a two-day series of meetings with more than 50 state legislative
leaders from 31 states ahead of the 2023 state legislative session. Chaired by
senior administration officials the focus was on lowering costs and expanding
access to health care and housing; building a cleaner, more sustainable
America; preventing gun violence and supporting criminal justice reform;
strengthening our democracy; and pursuing freedom for
all, including civil rights, reproductive rights, gender equity, and LGBTQI+
equality.
á
Biden
spoke at the 10th annual National Vigil for All Victims of Gun Violence,
telling attendees, ÒFolks, events like this are hard. TheyÕre hard for all of
you, because it brings back the very moment that everything happened, no matter
how many years pass, no matter how many years go by. And it brings it back. But
your voices matter. Your voices matter a great deal.Ó
Thursday, Dec. 8
á
The
House agreed to Senate amendments and passed the Respect for Marriage Act,
which repealed the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and required the federal
government to recognize the validity of same-sex and interracial marriages.
á
Biden
announced the release and return to the U.S. of WNBA star Brittney Griner,
after his administration brokered an exchange with Russia for arms dealer
Viktor Bout. Griner had been held in Russian prison
since February, when she was arrested for carrying vape
cartridges with hash oil.
á
Senator
Kyrsten Sinema left the Democratic Party to become an
independent. Press
secretary Karine Jean-Pierre commented that ÒSenator Sinema has been a key partner on
some of the historic legislation President Biden has championed over the last
20 months É and we have every reason to expect that we will continue to work
successfully with her.Ó
á
The
U.S. Justice Department asked a federal judge Beryl A. Howell to hold Donald
TrumpÕs office in contempt of court for failing to fully comply with a subpoena
to return all government documents in his possession.
Friday, Dec. 9
á
Biden authorized up to $275 million in military aid to
Ukraine.
Sunday, Dec. 11
á
Biden spoke with President Volodymyr
Zelenskyy of Ukraine to underscore ongoing U.S. support for UkraineÕs defense
as Russia continues its assaults on UkraineÕs critical infrastructure.
á The Justice Department announced that Abu Agila Mohammad Mas'ud Kheir Al-Marimi is in custody, charged two years ago with the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie in Scotland in 1988.