White House Weekly Recap - Nelson Mullins

Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

 White House Weekly Recap
 for State, local, and Tribal officials - September 18, 2020

On behalf of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA), we are
providing you this top-line update of this week's resources, news, and guidance from
your Federal partners to help you serve your fellow citizens.

Below, find pertinent updates of recent Administration actions including:

 • A Readout of the IGA COVID-19 National Call
 • Trump Administration Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Strategy
 • The President's Unprecedented Investment in Fighting Wildfires
 • The Historic Signing of the Abraham Accords
 • $1 Billion in Infrastructure BUILD Grants
 • Decisive Action to Lower Drug Prices
 • Improving the Lives of Americans Living with Sickle Cell Disease
 • Incomes Hit Record High and Poverty Reached Record Low in 2019
 • The President's Leadership on the Return of Big Ten Football
 • The White House Conference on American History
 • The Repatriation of Native American Artifacts
 • Unprecedented Aid for Puerto Rico Infrastructure
 • USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program Round 2
 • Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2020

We appreciate your partnership and will continue to share pertinent updates as they
become available. As a reminder, IGA is the primary liaison between the White House
and America's State and local elected officials and Tribal governments. Please do not

hesitate to reach out if we can ever be of assistance.

Sincerely,

The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs

William F. Crozer
Special Assistant to the President & Deputy Director
O: 202-456-8491 | C: 202-881-8545 | E: William.F.Crozer@who.eop.gov
@WilliamCrozer45

Nick Barbknecht
Associate Director
Cell 202-881-9124
Nicolas.Barbknecht2@who.eop.gov

Gabby Uli
Deputy Associate Director
Cell 202-881-8552
Gabriella.M.Uli2@who.eop.gov

Readout from the COVID-19 National Call with State, Local, and
 Tribal Officials

Thank you for your efforts in the whole-of-America approach to responding to COVID-
19. Below you will find a readout from the COVID-19 National Briefing Call.

@Mike_Pence: At President @realDonaldTrump's direction, @US_FDA,
@NIH & our nation's scientists are working at Warp Speed to produce a safe
 & effective vaccine. Today, the @WhiteHouse Coronavirus Task Force met
 to discuss the distribution process of a vaccine to all Americans.

Participants on the September 16th included:

 • Ambassador Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator
 • Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease
 Control and Prevention
 • Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency
 • Adminiral Giroir, Assistant Secretary of Health, U.S. Department of Health and
 Human Services
 • Diane Jones, Principal Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of Education

Ambassador Deborah Birx, White House Coronavirus Task Force
Coordinator: Dr. Birx highlighted her travel to 28 states where she met with State,
local, and Tribal leaders to continue coordination on COVID-19 response, recovery, and
reopening efforts. Dr. Birx noted that 13 states have seen at least a 28 percent decline in
positive cases and highlighted overall improvements across Southern states. As colleges
and universities are working to bring students back to campus, Dr. Birx emphasized the
importance of mitigating community spread of the virus by implementing social

distancing measures, frequent handwashing, and robust testing and contact tracing
plans. Below, see various news articles highlighting Dr. Birx's recent travel.

 • Roanoke Times (Blacksburg, VA): U.S. Medical Expert Birx in
 Blacksburg
 • WATE 6 (Knoxville, TN): Dr. Deborah Birx Meets with Local Leaders
 and Health Officials at University of Tennessee
 • Commercial Appeal (Oxford, MS): U.S. Coronavirus Response Task
 Force Coordinator Visits Ole Miss
 • Tuscaloosa News (Tuscaloosa, AL): Deborah Birx Brings Coronavirus
 Team to Tuscaloosa

Dr. Jay Butler, Deputy Director for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention: Dr. Butler announced two documents developed by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in coordination with the
Department of Defense (DoD) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC), outlining the Trump Administration’s detailed strategy to deliver safe and
effective COVID-19 vaccine doses to the American people as quickly and reliably as
possible. The documents provide a strategic distribution overview along with an interim
playbook for state, tribal, territorial, and local public health programs and their partners
on how to plan and operationalize a vaccination response to COVID-19 within their
respective jurisdictions.

Pete Gaynor, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency:
Administrator Gaynor provided an update on the Federal government's efforts to
mobilize teams and supplies responding to impacts from Hurricane Sally in the Gulf and
wildfires out west while managing COVID-19 safety precautions.

 • FEMA Response Update: Sally and Western Wildfires
 • FEMA Response Update: Three Years After Hurricane Maria, FEMA
 Obligations Reach $7.3 Billion

Admiral Giroir, Assistant Secretary of Health, U.S. Department of Health
and Human Services: ADM Giroir recognized National Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

Month, which the White House elevated this issue with a Presidential Proclamation
for the first time since 1983. ADM Giroir, in coordination with First Lady Melania
Trump, highlighted the need to support children and improve quality of care across the
county.

Diane Jones, Principal Deputy Under Secretary, U.S. Department of
Education: Diane Jones provided remarks on the importance of reopening
America's schools, with the safety of students being the utmost priority. Jones
highlighted how the Trump Administration continues to work to support safe school
reopening for students, teachers, and staff. HHS is providing 125 million cloth masks to
states for distribution to schools. Shipments began last week to state departments of
health for distribution to schools throughout their states. The Administration intends for
these masks to support students, teachers, and staff in public and private schools
reopening, with an emphasis on students who are low-income or otherwise with high
needs and schools providing in-person instruction. Additional information and state-
specific distribution amount can be found here.

We would also like to highlight the U.S. Surgeon General's recent travel across the West
coast and engagement with State and local officials on COVID-19 response and
recovery efforts. Surgeon General Adams visited Clarke County, NV, Kern County, CA,
Los Angeles County, CA, and San Diego County, CA.

 FOX 5: Surgeon General visits UMC, discusses Southern Nevada
response to COVID-19
 23 ABC News: United States Surgeon General visits Kern County

 City of San Diego: U.S. Surgeon General Tours Key Sites in City and
County of San Diego’s COVID-19 Response

Since January 2020, the Trump Administration has led over 940 briefings with
over 237,400 State, local, and Tribal participants.

Trump Administration Releases COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution
 Strategy

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Defense
(DoD) released two documents on September 16 outlining the Trump
Administration’s detailed strategy to deliver safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine doses
to the American people as quickly and reliably as possible.

The documents, developed by HHS in coordination with DoD and the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), provide a strategic distribution overview along
with an interim playbook for state, tribal, territorial, and local public health programs
and their partners on how to plan and operationalize a vaccination response to COVID-
19 within their respective jurisdictions.

 @SecAzar: We have been laying the groundwork for months to distribute
and adminsiter a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine as soon as it meets
FDA's gold standard. Today we released the distribution strategy and a
planning playbook for juridictions from @CDCgov.

The strategic overview lays out four tasks necessary for the COVID-19 vaccine program:

 • Engage with state, tribal, territorial, and local partners, other stakeholders, and
 the public to communicate public health information around the vaccine and
 promote vaccine confidence and uptake.
 • Distribute vaccines immediately upon granting of Emergency Use Authorization/
 Biologics License Application, using a transparently developed, phased allocation
 methodology and CDC has made vaccine recommendations.
 • Ensure safe administration of the vaccine and availability of administration
 supplies.
 • Monitor necessary data from the vaccination program through an information
 technology (IT) system capable of supporting and tracking distribution,
 administration, and other necessary data.

On August 14, CDC executed an existing contract option with McKesson Corporation to
support vaccine distribution. The company also distributed the H1N1 vaccine during the
H1N1 pandemic in 2009-2010. The current contract with McKesson, awarded as part of
a competitive bidding process in 2016, includes an option for the distribution of vaccines
in the event of a pandemic.

 “CDC is drawing on its years of planning and cooperation with state and local public
health partners to ensure a safe, effective, and life-saving COVID-19 vaccine is ready to
 be distributed following FDA approval. Through the Advisory Committee on
 Immunization Practices, CDC will play a vital role in deciding, based on input from
 experts and stakeholders, how initial, limited vaccine doses will be allocated and
 distributed while reliably producing more than 100 million doses by January 2021.”
 - Dr. Robert Redfield, CDC Director

Detailed planning is ongoing to ensure rapid distribution as soon as the FDA authorizes
or approves a COVID-19 vaccine and CDC makes recommendations for who should
receive initial doses. Once these decisions are made, McKesson will work under CDC’s
guidance, with logistical support from DoD, to ship COVID-19 vaccines to
administration sites.

 • Download the Strategy for Distributing a COVID-19 Vaccine
 • Download the COVID-19 Vaccination Program Interim Playbook
 • Download the COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Process Infographic

The President's Unprecedented Investment in Fighting Wildfires

President Trump and the Administration have and continue to take action to support
areas across California impacted by wildfires. This includes the President's approval of
the State's disaster declaration request on August 22. This Administration has
also approved 15 Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) in California through
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Together, and in addition to other
federal personnel and support deployed in the State, the disaster declaration and

FMAG's are providing important federal resources for response and recovery activities.

On September 14, President Trump traveled to California, where he joined Federal,
State, and local leaders, including Governor Gavin Newsom, for a briefing on the
locally-executed, state-managed, and federally-supported wildfire response. The
President also honored seven members of California's Army National Guard with the
Distinguished Flying Cross, a military decoration that recognizes heroism and
extraordinary achievement. These brave men saved 242 people on the night of
September 5 as they flew two helicopters over a massive wildfire in Central California.

 @WhiteHouse: President Trump traveled to California for a briefing on
wildfires. A Major Disaster Declaration was approved in August, and we
continue to provide support via Fire Management Assistance Grants and
other aid. Thank you to the first responders working to put out the fires!

 @WhiteHouse: President Trump honored 7 members of California's
National Guard with the Distinguished Flying Cross. On the night of Sept 5,

they flew helicopters to a campground where families had become stranded
and surrounded by fire. They saved 242 people.

 READ MORE: California National Guard Crews Honored by Trump for
Creek Fire Rescue

Additional Guidance and Resources

 • 2020 Preparedness Month Proclamation: The President urges all
 Americans to take intentional, precautionary measures to ensure the resilience of
 their families, homes, communities, and businesses (here)
 • Executive Order 13855: Promoting Active Management of America's Forests,
 Rangelands, and Other Federal Lands to Improve Conditions and Reduce
 Wildfire Risk (here)
 • U.S. Department of Agriculture Assistance: USDA Assists Farmers,
 Ranchers, and Communities Affect by Recent Wildfires (here)
 • Small Business Administration Assistance: SBA provides low-interest
 disaster loans to California business and residents as a result of President
 Trump's disaster declaration (here)

 The Historic Signing of the Abraham Accords

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa and Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu have agreed to open an era of friendship and cooperation in pursuit of a
Middle East region that is stable, secure and prosperous for the benefit of all States and
peoples in the region.

 @FLOTUS: A historic day here at the @WhiteHouse as @POTUS works to
rebuild trust with our regional partners in #Israel, #UAE & the Kingdom of
#Bahrain, identify their shared interests & move away from the conflicts of
the past.

 @Mike_Pence: It is truly a historic day at the @WhiteHouse! Thanks to
the bold and decisive leadership of President @realDonaldTrump and the
vision of the leaders of the State of Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain, the

Abraham Accords mark an incredible step towards peace!

 @IvankaTrump: The Abraham Accords are signed! Today's historic
signing proves that the nations of the Middle East are breaking free from
the failed approaches of the past. After decades of division and conflict, we
mark the dawn of a new Middle East. Congratulations to all!

 @netanyahu: Thank you President Trump. You have unequivocally stood
by Israel's side and boldly confronted the tyrants of Tehran. You've
proposed a realistic vision for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
And you have successfully brokered the historic peace that we are signing
today.

On Tuesday, September 15, Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel and Foreign Minister
Mr. Abdullatif Al Zayani met in Washington - at the invitation of President Donald J.
Trump of the United States of America - to endorse the principles of the Abraham
Accords and to commence a new chapter of peace. This diplomatic breakthrough was
facilitated by the Abraham Accords initiative of President Donald J. Trump. It reflects
the successful perseverance of the United States’ efforts to promote peace and stability in
the Middle East. The Kingdom of Bahrain and the State of Israel trust that this
development will help lead to a future in which all peoples and all faiths can live together
in the spirit of cooperation and enjoy peace and prosperity where states focus on shared
interests and building a better future.

During their meetings and the signing ceremony at the White House, the parties
discussed their shared commitment to advancing peace and security in the Middle East
stressing the importance of embracing the vision of the Abraham Accords, widening the
circle of peace; recognizing each State’s right to sovereignty and to live in peace and
security, and continuing the efforts to achieve a just, comprehensive, and enduring
resolution of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

View the signed document here.

 READ MORE: Abraham Accords: Declaration of Peace, Cooperation, and
Constructive Diplomatic and Friendly Relations

 Watch: Remarks by President Trump, Prime Minister Netanyahu,
Minister bin Zayed, and Minister Al Zayani at the Abraham Accords Signing
Ceremony

 $1 Billion in Infrastructure BUILD Grants

On September 16, U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao
announced the Trump Administration will invest $1 billion in American infrastructure
through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD)
Transportation Discretionary Grants program. The funding has been awarded to
70 projects in 44 states.

 “This Administration is making significant investments in infrastructure, and this $1
 billion in BUILD grants will repair, rebuild, and revitalize transportation systems
 across America.” - Secretary Elaine Chao

Fiscal Year 2020 BUILD Transportation grants are for planning and capital investments
in surface transportation infrastructure and were awarded on a competitive basis for
projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding supports
roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports or intermodal transportation. Since 2017, the
Administration has awarded nearly $4 billion in BUILD grants to improve America’s
infrastructure.

 @SecElaineChao: Big news for America’s infrastructure! @USDOT is
announcing $1 billion in BUILD grants that will repair, rebuild, and
revitalize transportation systems across America!

The program selection criteria encompassed safety, economic competitiveness, quality of
life, state of good repair, environmental sustainability, innovation, and partnerships
with a broad range of stakeholders. To better address the needs of rural America, which
has historically been neglected, the Department is awarding 50% of BUILD
Transportation grant funding to projects located in rural areas that deliver positive
benefits for these communities, consistent with the Department’s R.O.U.T.E.S.
initiative. For this round of BUILD Transportation grants, the maximum grant award
is $25 million, and no more than $100 million can be awarded to a single State, as
specified in the appropriations act.

The full list of awards can be found here.

 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Elaine L. Chao: Trump's Administration is
Boosting Infrastructure in PA

 KPEL News Talk: BUILD Grant to Help "Revitalize" University
Avenue Corridor in Lafayette
 Cleveland.com: The Trump Administration Is Boosting Infrastructure
in Ohio

 Decisive Action to Lower Drug Prices

On Sunday, September 13, President Trump signed yet another Executive
Order to put America first by lowering prescription drug prices. This
executive order is the fourth of four executive orders announced in July to help drive
down drug prices for American patients. On July 24th, President Trump signed four
executive orders. However, he did not release the final executive order on “most-favored
nation” drug pricing, giving drug companies a month to come up with a
counterproposal. Negotiations did not produce an acceptable alternative, so the

Administration is moving forward.

President Trump is working to ensure American patients are no longer
forced to pay drastically higher drug prices than those in other
countries. President Trump is releasing an executive order on “most favored nation”
drug pricing that will tie the prices of the most expensive Medicare drugs to the lowest
price available in economically comparable countries. Foreign countries get much lower
prices from drug makers, putting the burden on Americans to subsidize these discounts
by forcing higher prices on the United States.

President Trump is following through on his promise to fight against special
interests and bring down drug prices for Americans after years of inaction
by Washington. President Trump also recently signed executive orders to allow for
the importation of lower cost prescription drugs from abroad, ensure patients see the
value of discounts passed through to them at the pharmacy counter, and give low-
income Americans access to extremely low priced insulin and EpiPens at federally
qualified health centers.

Under President Trump, the FDA continues to approve a record number of lower price
generics. These approvals saved patients $26 billion in the first 19 months of the
President’s first term alone.

President Trump is also driving down drug prices for American seniors - average basic
premiums for Medicare Part D prescription drug plans have fallen by 13.5 percent since
2017, saving beneficiaries $1.9 billion in premium costs. President Trump released a
whole-of-government blueprint to help lower drug prices in 2018 and as a result,
prescription drugs saw their largest annual price decrease in over half a century in 2018
thanks to President Trump’s efforts.

 READ MORE: Executive Order on Lowering Drug Prices by Putting
America First

Improving the Lives of Americans Living with Sickle Cell Disease

On September 14, First Lady Melania Trump and the Health and Human Services
Department (HHS) hosted a roundtable on “Improving the Lives of Americans Living
with Sickle Cell Disease” in recognition of National Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) Awareness
Month. For the first time since 1983, the White House has elevated this important issue
with a Presidential Proclamation issued by President Trump on August 31, 2020.

 @FLOTUS: Today, I hosted a roundtable @WhiteHouse on improving the
lives of Americans w Sickle Cell Disease. We must continue to support those
affected, eliminate stigma, & reaffirm our goal of finding a cure.

The First Lady opened the roundtable by reaffirming the goal of finding a cure and
highlighted the children’s well-being pillar of her Be Best initiative, noting that the
effects of SCD often begin in early childhood. Mrs. Trump also pointed out that progress
has been made through early identification and new life-saving therapies, but noted that
there is still much more to do.

 READ MORE: Readout from The First Lady’s Roundtable on Improving
the Lives of Americans Living with Sickle Cell Disease

 Watch: Improving the Lives of Americans with Sickle Cell Disease
Roundtable

 Incomes Hit Record High and Poverty Reached Record Low in
 2019

American households saw their best economic gains in half a century last year under
President Trump, according to a report this week from the Census Bureau. And with the
President’s pro-growth, pro-worker policies in action, this standard can be achieved
again as America safely reopens from the Coronavirus pandemic.

Median household income grew by a stunning $4,400 in 2019, resulting in
an all-time record of $68,700. This 6.8 percent one-year increase is the largest gain
on record for median income growth. The poverty rate plunged to an all-time low
of 10.5 percent, as well. Between 2018 and 2019 alone, over 4 million
Americans were lifted out of poverty, and the child poverty rate fell to a
nearly 50-year low in 2019.

 @WhiteHouseCEA: In a single year, real median hosuehold income grew
$4,379 in 2019. That is over $1,300 more than the prior Administration
accomplished in 8 years. Just another example of how @realDonaldTrump's
economy puts Americans FIRST.

Minority groups including African Americans, Hispanic Americans, and Asian
Americans saw the largest gains in income, while poverty rates fell to a record low for
every race and ethnic group in 2019. Black Americans, for example, saw a 7.9 percent
median income increase and a poverty rate that fell below 20 percent for the first time in
history.

 @WhiteHouseCEA: From USDOL: In august 2020, 41 States had
signifiacntly lower unemployment rates than in July 2020. The strong

recovery through Aug. resulted in roughly 48% of COVID-job losses
recovered nationally. 31 States ahe recovered a higher share of COVID-job
losses than the nat'l avg.

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted this historic progress in 2020. Nevertheless,
America today is witnessing the fastest recovery from any economic crisis in history.
Thanks to the strong fundamentals of the Trump Economy, the monthly jobs report has
met or exceeded economist expectations for four months in a row. The new Census
report confirms what we know to be true: With the right agenda for blue-collar and
middle-class workers, there’s no limit to America’s economic greatness!

 READ MORE: Incomes Hit Record High and Poverty Reached Record
Low in 2019

 The President's Leadership on the Return of Big Ten Football

The Trump Administration has worked consistently for a safe reopening of colleges and
universities across the country. In addition to coordination with our Nation's Governors
through the White House Coronavirus Task Force, Administration Officials -
including Dr. Deborah Birx - have been traveling to communities across the country to
meet with State and local officials and education leaders to discuss the safe return of
students to campus.

On September 16, the Big Ten announced the return of college football this season! Since
the conference's announcement that it would forego the 2020 season, the President and
Administration have actively engaged with Big Ten and university officials to safely
bring football back to your communities. We hope that you will join the President
and officials across your States in celebrating that BIG TEN FOOTBALL IS
BACK!

Ohio Governor @MikeDeWine: Great news today from
the @bigten. Thanks to the leadership of OSU @PresKMJohnson and her
colleagues who are committed to a rigorous testing protocol, student-
athletes will have opportunity to return to play.

 Nebraska @GovRicketts: Thank you to everyone from President
@realDonaldTrump and parents of players to @UofNE_President,
@coach_frost, and Mike Flood who successfully fought to bring @Huskers
football back!

 Indiana State Senator @JustinBusch: I’m looking forward to watching
some great Big Ten Football this season. Thank you for leading the effort
@realDonaldTrump.

 Michigan Speaker @LeeChatfield: Thank you, President
@realDonaldTrump for your leadership! Michigan thanks you. The Midwest
thanks you. The country thanks you. #LetsGo

 Michigan Senate Majority Leader @SenMikeShirkey: Looking forward to
seeing Michigan, Michigan State and even that team from Ohio back on the
field!

 Wisconsin Senate President @SenatorRoth: This is fantastic
news! #OnWisconsin

Minnesota Senate Majority Leader @PaulGazelka: Great news!

 Ohio Senate President @LarryObhoff: Big Ten football is back! Looking
forward to seeing THE Ohio State Buckeyes this fall! Thank you
@realDonaldTrump for your support.

The Trump Administration is committed to working with you and State, local, and Tribal
officials across the country as we continue to safely reopen all schools. On Tuesday, July
7, the White House hosted a half-day Summit on Safely Reopening America’s
Schools focusing on reopening America’s schools in safe ways that respect the holistic
health and learning needs of America’s students. The Summit included state and local
leaders, health professionals, teachers, administrators, parents, and higher education
institution leaders from across the Nation.

 • Full Summit (Here)
 • Remarks from Second Lady Pence (Here)
 • Remarks from White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah
 Birx, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, and Health & Human Services Secretary
 Alex Azar (Here)
 • Panel Discussion – ABCs of Reopening Schools Safely (Here)
 • Panel Discussion – Implementing Safe School Reopenings (Here)
 • Roundtable with the President, First Lady, Vice President, & Second Lady (Here)
 • Transcript from the Roundtable with the President (Here)

The CDC has released science-based resources and tools for school administrators,
teachers, parents, guardians, and caregivers when schools open this fall. The CDC
discusses the importance of reopening America’s schools this fall here noting that “as
families and policymakers make decisions about their children returning to school, it is
important to consider the full spectrum of benefits and risks of both in-person and
virtual learning options.”

 • K-12 Schools Guidance & Considerations here.
 • Higher Education Institutions Guidance & Considerations here.

The White House Conference on American History

On September 17, President Trump marked 233 years since the signing of our U.S.
Constitution. To honor this Constitution Day, President Trump spoke at the White
House Conference on American History held at the National Archives building in
Washington, D.C. The event brought together scholars to address the way some have
distorted American history.

 “Our Constitution was the product of centuries of tradition, wisdom, and experience.
 No political document has done more to advance the human condition or propel the
 engine of progress.” - President Trump

The President also announced that he would sign an executive order launching the “1776
Commission,” which will promote patriotic education for our students. The commission
will encourage educators to make plans to celebrate the 250th birthday of America’s
founding, as well.

 READ MORE: Presidential Proclamation on Constitution Day,
Citizenship Day, And Constitution Week, 2020

 WATCH: White House Conference on American History

 WATCH: President Trump Delivers Remarks at the White House
Conference on American History

 The Repatriation of Native American Artifacts

On September 17, President Donald J. Trump commemorated the repatriation of
Native American remains and artifacts from the Republic of Finland. Since
World War II, several administrations’ requests for repatriation of these ancestral
remains from the Mesa Verde Region went unfulfilled. But under the leadership of
President Trump and through the work of the Trump Administration, these remains and
cultural artifacts have been returned to their proper resting place.

On September 13, a coalition of tribes - including the Hopi Tribe, the Pueblo of Acoma,
the Pueblo of Zia, and the Pueblo of Zuni - repatriated and reinterred ancestors and
associated funerary objects in the Mesa Verde National Park. President Trump led
the efforts for the remains of all 20 persons to be returned along with the 28
associated funerary objects; the Museum’s entire collection includes more than 600
items of the Ancestral Pueblo people (previously called Anasazi) dating from 500-1300.

Last year, President Trump, in concert with Finland President Sauli Niinistö and U.S.
Ambassador to Finland Robert Pence, announced a joint diplomatic agreement for the
historic return of ancestral remains and funerary artifacts to the Pueblo and other tribes
(26 total) with cultural heritage in the Mesa Verde region. The items were excavated in
1891 by a Swedish archaeologist from lands now within Mesa Verde National Park in
southwest Colorado and have been in the National Museum of Finland since. The United
States government has been trying to secure their return for over 70 years, and the
Trump Administration finally got it done. The return of these artifacts is of great
importance to tribes from the Mesa Verde region to ensure a proper and respectful
burial. The burial took place on the tribes’ ancestral land on Sunday, September 13, near
Durango, Colorado. The Hopi, Zia, Zuni, and Acoma Pueblo tribes led the repatriation
efforts on behalf of the 26 relevant tribes.

This important announcement illustrates President Trump and the Administration's
ongoing commitment to preserving and protecting Native American cultures, languages,
and history. Previously, the Trump Administration's efforts led to the successful
return of an item of cultural patrimony, a ceremonial war shield sacred to the Pueblo of
Acoma. And in 2019, the Trump Administration recognized the significance of the
eagle in many Tribal cultures by increasing Native American access to eagle feathers.

 READ MORE: Trump Administration Finalizes the Return of American
Indian Ancestral Remains and Artifacts

 Unprecedented Aid for Puerto Rico Infrastructure

On Friday, September 18, the Trump Administration announced that the Federal
Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) plans to award two of its largest grants
ever for infrastructure projects in Puerto Rico. Under the leadership of President
Trump, FEMA will award almost $13 billion to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s
electrical grid system and spur recovery of the territory’s education
system—the largest obligations of funding ever awarded. This funding amount
includes a Federal share of $11.6 billion for the projects.

These will be the largest projects in the history of FEMA’s Public Assistance program.
Both projects are being done through the Public Assistance Alternative Procedures as
described in Section 428 of the Stafford Act. This funding will replace and repair
thousands of miles of both transmission and distribution lines, electrical substations,
power generation systems, office buildings and other modernization improvements for
Puerto Rico’s electrical grid. This funding will also help the island repair and rebuild
schools throughout the island.

 READ MORE: Recovery Highlights for Hurricanes Irma and Maria

The unprecedented recovery from Hurricane María has reached a milestone in the
obligation of FEMA funds. Three years after one of the largest and most complex
disasters in the agency’s 40-year history, nearly $7.3 billion was approved to help
rebuild the island – prior to these historic awards.

USDA Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) Round 2

On Friday, September 18, The President announced another $14 Billion for
the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) -- a second round of CFAP or
CFAP 2. CFAP 2 will provide additional direct payments to farmers and ranchers for

increased costs associated with declines in demand and disruptions to shipping &
purchasing patterns due to COVID-19. This is on top of an initial $16 billion via the
CFAP 1 program, of which ended early September, making for $30 billion total the
Administration has made available in direct payments to farmers to account for COVID-
19 losses.

On May 19, 2020, President Trump announced the launch of the CFAP, a sweeping
initiative that provides direct relief to producers who face price declines and additional
costs due to COVID-19. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), at the direction of
President Trump, crafted the CFAP program to provide critical support to our farmers
and ranchers, maintain the integrity of our food supply chain, and ensure every
American continues to receive and have access to the food they need.

By way of example, Wisconsin farmers already received $518.914 million dollars under
CFAP 1. Wisconsin’s great dairy, cranberry, mink and ginseng farmers will benefit
tremendously from this new round of $14 B in direct payments as well.

 READ MORE: Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2

 Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, 2020

President Trump issued a proclamation for National POW/MIA Recognition Day to
be September 18 to remember the more than 500,000 prisoners of war who have
endured incredible suffering and brutality under conditions of extraordinary privation,
and the tens of thousands of our patriots who are still missing in action. Although our
Nation will never be able to fully repay our debt to those who have given so much on our
behalf, we commemorate their bravery and recommit to working for their long-suffering
families who deserve answers and solace for their missing loved ones.

 READ MORE: Proclamation on National POW/MIA Recognition Day

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