Vice President Joe Biden greets Mexican President Felipe Calderon at Los Pinos in Mexico City, Mexico, March 5, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

This week, Vice President Biden traveled to Mexico and Honduras as part of the administration’s sustained, high-level engagement with the Americas. The Vice President’s visit comes in advance of the President’s participation in the Summit of the Americas this April in Colombia, which will focus on leveraging Hemispheric connections and partnerships to improve the lives of people throughout the region.

On Monday, Vice President Biden met with President Calderon at Los Pinos, the Presidential Palace in Mexico City. On the agenda was the close U.S.-Mexico partnership including a wide range of economic and security issues related to a shared border that sees more than a million legal crossings and more than $1 billion in trade every day.

While in Mexico City, Vice President Biden also met with presidential candidates from the country’s three major political parties – Andrés Manuel López Obrador of the Party of the Democratic Revolution, Enrique Peña Nieto, of the Institutional Revolutionary Party and Josefina Vázquez Mota of the National Action Party. He learned about each candidate’s vision for Mexico, as well as the future of the U.S.-Mexico relationship, but also expressed that he and President Obama look forward to working with whomever the people of Mexico elect.

Capping his day of official activities, Vice President Biden visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe – one of the most visited Roman Catholic sites in the world and the most holy Roman Catholic site in Mexico.  After touring the site and saying a prayer at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Vice President crossed the Basilica square to visit the Antigua Parrogquia de Los Indios (Old Church of the Indians). Calling the site a “great treasure,” Vice President Biden remarked that he would have come to Mexico City if only just to see the Basilica.

Vice President Joe Biden takes a class photo with Central American Leaders at the Presidential Palace in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, March 6, 2012. From right to left are Carlos Morales Troncoso, Foreign Minister of the Dominican Republic, President Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua, President Maurico Funes, El Salvador, Vice President Joe Biden, President Profirio Lobo, Honduras, President Laura Chinchilla, Costa Rica, President Otto Perez Molina, Guatemala, and President Ricardo Martinelli, Panama. March 6, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

From Mexico City, Vice President Biden traveled south to Tegucigalpa, Honduras on Tuesday to meet with President Lobo, as well as other Central American leaders, including Presidents Otto Peréz Molina of Guatemala, Mauricio Funes of El Salvador, Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, Laura Chinchilla of Costa Rica, Ricardo Martinelli of Panama, as well as Foreign Minister Carlos Morales Troncoso of the Dominican Republic.

In addition to the upcoming Summit of the Americas, the leaders discussed the Central American Citizen Security Partnership, announced by President Obama in El Salvador last March, which recognizes that a secure and prosperous Central America is in the interest of all our countries. “The ties that bind the United States and Central America are broad and they are deep,” Vice President Biden said in remarks following the meeting. The United States is committed to assisting the region, “because it is in our own interest as well to help the region develop more prosperous and more inclusive societies.”

Vice President Biden went on to detail the ongoing U.S. economic commitments to the region, as well as efforts to reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the U.S. and cut the illicit flow of money and weapons from the U.S. that contribute to crime and violence in the region.  “It is our responsibility,” the Vice President said. But “the indispensable ingredient comes, of course, from Central America itself in the form of action by governments, civil society, as well as the private sector.”

In closing, Vice President Biden proposed that the Central American governments hold an annual high-level meeting to assess the progress being made to improve the security within each country.

See a slideshow of the Vice President's trip, and check out his interviews with Mexico’s La Reforma newspaper, and Honduran newspaper, La Prensa.

Vice President Joe Biden with clergy during his visit to the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, Mexico, March 5, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Capping his day of official activities in Mexico City yesterday, Vice President Biden visited the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe – one of the most visited Roman Catholic sites in the world and the most holy Roman Catholic site in Mexico.  

After touring and saying a prayer at the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe, the Vice President crossed the Basilica square to visit the Antigua Parrogquia de Los Indios (Old Church of the Indians). Calling the site a “great treasure,” Vice President Biden remarked that he would have come to Mexico City if only just to see the Basilica.

Vice President Joe Biden visits the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, in Mexico City, Mexico, March 5, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Biden speaks to guests at the third annual Black History Month reception at the Naval Observatory, February 27, 2012 (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

This week, Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden hosted their third annual Black History Month reception at the Naval Observatory.  More than 140 guests were in attendance, including Attorney General Eric Holder, U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, as well as members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the National Black Caucus of State Legislators, the National Conference of Black Mayors and the National Organization of Black County Officials.

In addition to hearing from the Vice President, Dr. Biden and civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis, guests had the opportunity to see a collection of photos from the Delaware Historical Society’s special exhibit, Wilmington in the 1930s: Focus on the East Side. Henry Szymanski, Sr.’s collection provides a rare Depression-era glimpse into the daily lives of people living in the city’s East side community.

A collection of photographs from the Delaware Historical Society’s special exhibit, Wilmington in the 1930s: Focus on the East Side, on display at the Naval Observatory Residence in Washington, D.C., February 27, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The Vice President shared the struggles and barriers he witnessed growing up in Wilmington, Delaware and later as a public defender, and U.S. Senator, telling the group that when he was asked at the age of 29 why he ran for the Senate, he had one answer – civil rights. 

Describing how Black History Month is a celebration of the struggles and accomplishments of African Americans, he noted that many of the guests “have created and lived through the most fundamental, dynamic change in the entirety of the history of African Americans in the United States.”

Vice President Biden with Ann Burke at a reception to mark the 17th anniversary of the passage of the Violence Against Women Act at the Naval Observatory, September 13th, 2012 (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Over the past month, college newspapers across the country have run an op-ed penned by Vice President Biden in which he urges college students to take action to help put an end to dating violence and sexual assault on their campuses. February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month, and Vice President Biden took the opportunity to remind students that dating violence is still a very real problem in our country. 

The facts are clear: nearly one in five college women will be the victim of a sexual assault, and one in ten teens will be hurt by someone they are dating. As the Vice President wrote, these are not merely statistics, “these are the people you know: your roommates, your friends, your sisters, and your classmates.” 

As the Vice President has often said, we all have an absolute obligation to try to stop abuse when we see it – no matter what. That’s why this Administration is working so hard to confront the problem head on. 

Last April, new standards were announced that make it clear that colleges are responsible for creating campus environments that refuse to tolerate dating violence. And in September, the Vice President launched the “1 is 2 Many” project – an effort to change attitudes that lead to violence and educate the public on the realities of abuse. 

Learn more about the Administration's efforts Here and read the full op-ed below:

Together We Must End Dating Violence

By Joseph R. Biden Jr. 

More than twenty years ago, I read a study of junior high school students in Rhode Island that included one finding I’ve never been able to get out of my head. Students were asked if a man who spent money on a woman during a date was entitled to force her into sexual activity. An astounding 25 percent of the young boys said yes – and even more astounding, 17 percent of the junior high school girls agreed. 

You may think that sounds like a long time ago – and it was. But, sadly, dating violence remains a very real problem in our country – especially on college campuses. 

Today, while in college, nearly one in five women will be a victim of sexual assault and one in ten teens will be hurt on purpose by someone they are dating. These aren’t just statistics, these are people you know:  your roommates, your friends, your sisters, your classmates. This is a problem we all have to face. 

My dad used to say that there’s no worse sin than the abuse of power. Whether it was raising a hand to someone weaker, or using any advantage to push people around, he taught me that if you saw abuse, you had an obligation to attempt to stop it. It’s a lesson to remember every day, but especially this February, during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. 

Awareness is the first step to pushing back against a problem this big. When I held Senate hearings on violence against women more than two decades ago, domestic abuse in American society was rarely spoken about in public. I’ll never forget the stories of abuse I heard in over a thousand hours of hearings. The brutality of family members, acquaintances, and strangers against the women in their lives was absolutely devastating. 

It was those hearings that led to the Violence Against Women Act, and since then annual incidents of domestic violence have dropped by more than 50%. But for women in college and younger today, the risk is still much too high. 

That’s why I joined with Education Secretary Arne Duncan last April to announce historic new guidelines for colleges and universities about their responsibilities under Title IX to prevent sexual assault.  Under the federal civil rights law, schools have an obligation not only to respond appropriately when an assault occurs, but also to create a climate on campus that makes such violence unacceptable. 

I also started an initiative called 1is2many to help reduce dating violence and sexual assault among teens and young adults. We harnessed the power of technology to get our message out, launching a national contest to develop “Apps Against Abuse.” The two winning apps – which will be available later this spring – will let you get in touch with your friends quickly and safely so you can call for help if you need it and stop violence in its tracks.  We’ve also made sure the National Dating Abuse Helpline can be reached by text, online, or phone 24/7. 

Last month, the FBI changed the way the federal government defines rape. The narrow, outdated definition – unchanged since 1929 – said the assault had to be forcible and against a woman’s will to be classified as rape. It’s just not true, and it’s a point that I make on college campuses all across the country. Rape is rape and no means no. No means no whether drunk or sober. No means no whether in the dorm room or on the street. There is never an excuse. Young women and men alike need to understand this. Under the new definition, rape occurs when there is no consent, and it also includes sexual assault against boys and young men in national law enforcement reporting.  

These are important changes, but ending dating violence and sexual assault isn’t just a matter of laws and legislation.  It’s about education. It’s about attitudes. It’s about your participation.  I need your help to address this issue in your dorms and on your campuses.  Studies show that men’s ideas about what other men think is one of the strongest determinants of how they act. So guys, you need to speak out. 

The ultimate measure of a civilized society is how its laws and culture treat the abuse of women. Attitudes can change.  Violence can end.  But it can’t happen without universal understanding that dating violence and sexual assault will never be tolerated anywhere, at any time, for any reason.  Period.  That’s all of our responsibility.

Joe Biden is the Vice President of the United States

Vice President Joe Biden talks with Chinese Vice President Xi and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger during a luncheon at the State Department, in Washington, DC, February 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Yesterday, at the invitation of Vice President Biden, Vice President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China spent the morning at the White House for a series of meetings with President Obama, Vice President Biden, and other Administration officials. Vice President Xi’s visit to the United States this week – which includes stops in Washington, D.C., Iowa and California – is the second of the planned reciprocal visits between the Vice Presidents announced by President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao during President Hu’s state visit to Washington last year. 

Welcoming Vice President Xi to the Roosevelt Room in the West Wing of the White House, Vice President Biden reflected on his four-day visit to China last August. “As we discussed in my visit to China, this bilateral relationship is one of the most important in the world… important not only to both our countries but to the world at large,” he said. 

From the White House, the Vice Presidents continued on to the State Department for a lunch in Vice President Xi’s honor, co-hosted by Secretary Clinton. Over 200 guests enjoyed Asian-inspired dishes prepared by acclaimed Chinese-American chef Ming Tsai. 

“Few other nations in history have come so far, so fast, and it’s a great credit to the talent and industriousness of the Chinese people,” Vice President Biden said in his remarks. 

Raising the important issue of human rights, Vice President Biden said that while the U.S. and China “will not always see eye to eye, it is a sign of the strength and maturity of our relationship that we can be candid about our differences as we have been. … We see our advocacy for human rights as a fundamental aspect of our foreign policy and a key to the prosperity and stability of all societies.  We have been clear about our concern over the areas in which from our perspective conditions in China have deteriorated and about the plight of several very prominent individuals.” 

Following Vice President Xi’s meeting at the Pentagon, the Vice Presidents reconnected across from the White House at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for a U.S.-China Business Roundtable. The Vice Presidents participated in a similar event in Beijing last August. Leaders from more than 20 American and Chinese companies were in attendance– a group that, as the Vice President noted, demonstrated “how important U.S.-China economic and trade relationships are for both our nations.” 

“Even as our nations cooperate…we will continue to compete,” said Vice President Biden. “But competition can only be mutually beneficial if the rules of the game are understood, agreed upon and followed.”  

Capping the day was a formal dinner for Vice President Xi and the official Chinese delegation at the Naval Observatory, hosted by the Vice President and Dr. Biden. Vice President Xi was greeted by a military honor cordon lining the driveway of the Vice President’s residence. Following dinner, guests were treated to a performance by award-winning violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Sam Haywood.

Vice President Joe Biden talks with Chinese Vice President Xi in the library at the Naval Observatory Residence, February 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Joshua Bell and Sam Haywood perform at a dinner hosted by Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden for Chinese Vice President Xi, at the Naval Observatory Residence, February 14, 2012. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden and Rear Admiral Nora Tyson welcome home sailors from the USS Gettysburg following its return to Mayport Naval Base, Fla., Dec. 8, 2011. The Gettysburg, a guided missile cruiser, was part of the carrier strike group supporting the USS George H.W. Bush on its first deployment since being commissioned. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Yesterday morning, Vice President Biden made a surprise visit to Mayport Naval Station in Jacksonville, Florida to welcome over 300 sailors home from a seven month deployment to the Middle East. 

The sailors serve on the USS Gettysburg, which was returning to its homeport in Mayport. The Gettysburg deployed last May – along with helicopters and crew from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 70 (the “Spartans”, based at nearby Naval Station Jacksonville) – as part of the George H.W. Bush Strike Group. 

As the Gettysburg slowly made its way into port, the Vice President said a few words to the hundreds of family and friends gathered to welcome home their loved ones. He was joined by Rear Admiral Nora Tyson, Commander of Carrier Strike Group 2 – the first woman in U.S. Navy history to assume command of a carrier strike group. The Vice President thanked the families for the sacrifices they have made while their loved ones served overseas. “They also serve who only stand and wait,” he said, quoting poet John Milton. 

He also recalled his own son Beau’s homecoming after serving a year in Iraq. 

“I learned early, early on,” the Vice President said, “if anyone got - no matter who it was, the president, the Lord almighty - got between his mother and him or his wife and him as he was getting off that bus, they would have been trampled.” 

“I promise I'm not going to get between you and that ship coming in here,” he told the crowd. 

Keeping that promise, Vice President Biden delivered a brief welcome message over the ship’s public address system before personally thanking every sailor for their service as they disembarked the ship to reunite with their loved ones.

See the photo gallery of the USS Gettysburg homecoming

Vice President Joe Biden shakes hands with a fish monger in the Samatya Square neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, December 4, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden had one last stop to make in Istanbul earlier today before departing for Athens - the last leg of his trip through the region.

Samatya Square -- a traditional neighborhood in the Fatih district of Istanbul -- is home to all sorts of vendors and food stands carrying local specialties.

The neighborhood is said to represent a "mosaic of life" in Istanbul, having been home to Turks and various minority groups for centuries.

Vice President Biden walked through the cobblestone streets stopping in stores and picking up a few things. On the Vice President's shopping list: oranges, tangerines and other fruit as well as olives and cheeses.

Related:

See a slideshow of the Vice President's trip to Turkey
Vice President Biden Visits the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Vice President Biden Attends Summit in Turkey to Champion Entrepreneurial Spirit 

Vice President Joe Biden visits a shop in the Samatya Square neighborhood in Istanbul, Turkey, December 4, 2011. (by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden lights a candle with His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Church of St. George at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey; December 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Following their meeting, the Vice President and the Ecumenical Patriach were joined by members of the Holy Synod, Metropolitans, and Greek community leaders for continued discussions - not to mention an abundance of the local dessert of choice, Turkish Delight.

Vice President Biden then had the opportunity to tour the Church of St. George at the Patriarchate with His Eminence Archbishop Demitrios Trakatellis, Primate of the Greek Orthodox Church of America, with whom the Vice President recently met in New York City. A beautiful day in Istanbul, the tour included a stroll through the Church's mosaic adorned courtyard. It was a special honor to later light a candle at the Church with the Ecumenical Patriarch.

Vice President Joe Biden meets with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Istanbul, Turkey; December 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden addresses the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the convention center in Istanbul, Turkey, December 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Earlier today in Istanbul, Vice President Biden addressed the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit, convened by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The Vice President is leading the U.S. delegation to the summit, which follows the 2010 Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship hosted by President Obama in Washington, D.C. 

This year’s summit comes at a critical moment in the Middle East and North Africa as millions have risked their lives for political freedom and economic opportunity. 

"Democratic revolutions like the ones in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya -- and the ones still unfolding in Syria and Yemen --are imbued, literally imbued with entrepreneurial spirit, a spirit that requires risk and initiative, steadfast determination, and a unifying idea," said Vice President Biden. "They aim to do more than merely change the government which is in power, but also to end practices like authoritarianism, corruption, the stifling of free expression -- practices that make political and economic freedom impossible."

The Vice President also highlighted how entrepreneurs are a driving force for job creation and economic growth in the United States.

"Once, the wealth of a nation was primarily measured by the abundance of its natural resources, the expanse of its landmass, the size of its population and the power of its armies," the Vice President said. "Today, the true wealth of a nation is found in the creative minds of its people and their freedom and ability to bring those ideas to life -- to develop not only new products, but the technologies that will create entirely new industries, entire new markets, entire new opportunities."

"We’re all here because we believe in the power of entrepreneurship to transform lives and lift up entire communities and nations," he continued.

Vice President Biden also attended the opening of a concurrent youth entrepreneurship summit, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

The Vice President began his visit to Turkey in Ankara, where he met with President Gul and the Speaker of the Parliament, Cemil Cicek. In addition to discussing the Vice President's visit to Iraq and the ongoing situations in Syria and Iran, topics of discussion included Turkey's constitutional reform process, freedom of the press and relations with Armenia.

The Vice President also laid a wreath at the Ataturk Mausoleum.  Signing the Mausoleum guest book, Vice President Biden noted President Ataturk’s contributions to democracy. “As people around the world today strive for a greater voice in how they are governed, they can take inspiration from Ataturk's emphasis on the principles of democracy in Turkey's own development,” he wrote.

Related:
See a slideshow of the Vice President's trip to Turkey
Vice President Biden Visits the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Vice President Biden Checks Out Istanbul's Samatya Square

Vice President Joe Biden meets with U.S. and Turkish business leaders at the second Global Entrepreneurship Summit at the convention center in Istanbul, Turkey, December 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden addresses U.S. soldiers at Al-Faw palace at Camp Victory, outside Baghdad, Iraq, Dec. 1, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Speaking at an event in Baghdad to honor the shared sacrifice and commitment of American and Iraqi servicemembers, Vice President Biden heralded a new chapter in the relationship between the United States and Iraq – one rooted in civilian cooperation as the remaining American troops prepare to return home by the end of this year. More than 200 U.S. and Iraqi servicemembers attended the event at Al Faw Palace - a former palace of Saddam Hussein. 

“Today we come together at another moment of transition,” said Vice President Biden. “In America, and in Iraq, the tide of war is receding. And our relationship, borne on the battlefield and long defined by the imperative of security alone, is now giving way to a new, more normal partnership between sovereign nations seeking to build a future together.” 

In reflecting on the 4,486 American servicemembers who lost their lives in the war in Iraq, and the more than 30,000 wounded, the Vice President quoted President Harry Truman in describing the end of the war as a “solemn but glorious hour.”  

The event capped two days of productive talks in Baghdad with Iraqi political leaders – including a meeting of the U.S.-Iraq Higher Coordinating Committee – all focused on the transition to an Iraq in control of its own security, with the United States as an enduring strategic partner across a broad range of areas. From energy development, to trade, to the rule of law, to agriculture, to education – these areas of cooperation defined by the Strategic Framework Agreement offer an “opportunity to help a new Iraqi democracy secure its place in the community of responsible nations,” the Vice President said.  

From Baghdad, Vice President Biden traveled to Erbil where he met with Kurdish Regional Government President Massoud Barzani. 

The next stop for the Vice President: Ankara, Turkey, the first leg on a four-day visit to Turkey and Greece.

Related: See the slideshow from the Vice President's trip to Iraq

Vice President Joe Biden gives a speech on the American Jobs Act at the Alexandria Police Department in Alexandria, VA, September 29, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Biden made a short hop across the Potomac yesterday to the Alexandria Police Department in Alexandria, Virginia where he delivered remarks on how the American Jobs Act would help keep police officers and first responders on the beat in northern Virginia and across the country.

Alexandria is just one of thousands of communities where police forces have taken a hit due to budget cutbacks. Thanks to an $800,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant announced on Wednesday, the Alexandria Police Department will be able to put four out of nine of the officers they lost back on patrol. The American Jobs Act, as Vice President Biden said, would fund an additional $4 billion in COPS grants – like the one awarded to Alexandria – that would support the hiring, re-hiring and retention of officers in departments nationwide.

Vice President Biden went on to describe cities like Flint, Michigan, where two thirds of the police force has been laid off in the last 3 years, and Cleveland, Ohio, where the police academy graduated a class of 100 officers – all of whom had to turn in their badge and gun right after graduation because there were no positions available.

“We need to help these departments,” said the Vice President. “When you cut forces, and you cut them significantly, it not only diminishes public safety, it diminishes your ability to stay safe.”

Vice President Biden also announced how the American Jobs Act would help modernize public safety communications by deploying a nationwide public safety broadband network so that first responders can communicate and exchange data without interruption in emergency situations. The Vice President emphasized that such a network requires sufficient spectrum which is why the American Jobs Act includes allocating the D-block to it.  As the Vice President said, a modern communications system is something “we promised you, the last administration promised you, everybody has promised you since 9/11. … So once and for all, you’ll have what you should have had 10 years ago, 12 years ago, 15 years ago.”

“The first responders in this country, you are absolutely incredible,” Vice President Biden said in closing.  “To me, this is a simple deal.  We owe you.  We said we'd give you what you need, and we told the public they'd have what they needed to be protected.  We're not doing it now because of this recession.  There's an easy way to do it – just by making some very stark choices on value systems that in fact I think the vast majority of the American people would say is just fair.”

Amy Dudley is Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice President.

Watch Vice President Biden announce $20 billion in additional small business lending here.

Small businesses across the country got a boost yesterday when Vice President Biden announced that 13 of the nation’s largest banks, in partnership with the Small Business Administration, have committed to increase small business lending by a combined $20 billion over the next three years.

Speaking with SBA Administrator Karen Mills at Wrap Tite Inc. – a small packing and shipping material company in Solon, Ohio – the Vice President told the story of how a recent $1.5 million SBA-supported loan allowed Wrap Tite to purchase and renovate a new facility in Solon, as well as hire five new workers.  The new lending commitments announced today means more small businesses like Wrap Tite will have access to the capital they need to help grow the nation’s economy at the local level. As Vice President Biden said, "Small business men and women – who are the engine of economic growth in America – create two out of every three jobs in America."

But, as the Vice President said in Ohio, the lending boost for small businesses is only part of the story, and we cannot stop there. Urging Congress to pass the American Jobs Act right away, he described two key ways the bill would help small businesses grow and hire in Ohio and across the country – by cutting their taxes and putting money back in their customer’s pockets:

This is about putting money in the hands of middle-class people, creating jobs for those who don’t have them and giving people a fight chance.

More specifically, the American Jobs Act would cut payroll taxes in half for small businesses like Wrap Tite and give them a 6.2% payroll tax cut for every additional dollar they spend hiring workers or increasing wages.

And the American Jobs Act would allow businesses purchasing new equipment to expense their investments through the end of next year, giving them a tax incentive to invest.  Because Wrap Tite made a $250,000 investment in three new machines over the past year, they could benefit from existing expensing provisions; the American Jobs Act would extend that critical tax relief through the end of 2012.

The Vice President concluded by pointing out that, in the end, passage of the American Jobs Act is about choices – whether Congress will choose to preserve tax loopholes for corporations and the wealthy or choose to pass new job-creating tax cuts and infrastructure investments.

“We can either keep 280,000 teachers in their classrooms, or we can preserve tax loopholes for oil and gas companies. … We can either keep cops and firefighters on the job, or we can keep giving corporate jet owners special tax breaks,” said Vice President Biden.

Vice President Joe Biden discusses the importance of the American Jobs Act for small businesses, at Wrap Tite Inc, in Solon, Ohio, September 20, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Speaking before a crowd that included many of the men and women who supported the Vice President’s efforts to see the Act become law on September 13, 1994, the Vice President remarked on how it was VAWA that exposed a “flaw that lay as part of the fabric of American society”– the fact that the mere discussion of violence and abuse being committed against women was considered by many to be taboo.

Beyond shattering this notion, the law redefined the way domestic violence is handled through changes in law enforcement, improvements in the criminal justice system and the establishment of shelters and services for victims.

Despite so much progress, young women still face the highest rates of dating violence and sexual assault– statistics that have led the Vice President over the past year to refocus his commitment to reducing violence on teens and young adults, aged 16-24.

“I’ll bet every single one of you knows somebody who have been or is being abused,” the Vice President said, speaking to youth victims and activists in the crowd. “And so, there’s somebody who needs help.  They need our help.  They are young women in high schools, on campuses.  And we’ve got to do a lot more than we’ve been doing.”

He also discussed in a video message he released earlier in the day that calls on high school and college students to share their ideas for how to prevent dating violence and sexual assault at their schools and on their college campuses. Over the next two weeks, young men and women are invited to join this important conversation by submitting their ideas via the whitehouse.gov/1is2many page or by using the hashtag #1is2many on Twitter.

“The point is there’s a lot of really fresh, good ideas about practical things we can do,” said the Vice President.

The Vice President also discussed the scope of new and innovative efforts to address teen dating violence and sexual assault that are underway across the federal agencies. For example, the Treasury Department is helping victims get education about rebuilding their financial situations and in July, the Department of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Vice President’s Office and the White House Office of Technology Policy, launched the “Apps Against Abuse” Challenge– a national competition to develop a software “app” for mobile devices that will help keep students safe on campus. 

Watch the Vice President's speech at the Pentagon 9/11 Service here.

Vice President Biden and Dr. Biden marked the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks at the Pentagon this morning, where 184 lives were lost when American Airlines Flight 77 crashed into the west side of the headquarters of the nation’s Department of Defense. Vice President Biden joined Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen at the ceremony set beside the Pentagon Memorial – 184 silver benches, one for each victim, shaded by maple trees.   

But before they made their way across the Potomac, the Vice President and Dr. Biden had a quick stop to make – nearby DC Fire Department Engine 20, Truck 12, where they surprised the firefighters on duty with coffee, breakfast, and words of thanks.

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden visit firefighters at D.C. Fire Department Engine 20, truck 12, in Washington, DC., Sep. 11, 2011. The Vice President and Dr. Biden stopped by with coffee and breakfast to thank the firefighters for their service. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The Vice President later remarked on the heroism displayed by DCFD firefighters and other first responders from across the region 10 years ago today. “They sprang to action,” he said, “risking their lives so their friends, their colleagues and total strangers, people they had never met, might live.”

But speaking directly to the families in the audience, Vice President Biden noted something they knew in their hearts before that fateful day. “That your loved ones, those who you lost, who we now call heroes, were already heroes. They were already heroes to you.”

Vice President Joe Biden speaks in front of the Pentagon during a 9/11 Anniversary Service at the Pentagon, in Arlington, VA. Sep. 11, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Watch the Vice President's speech honoring the Flight 93 National Memorial here.

Nearly a decade after September 11, 2001, Vice President Biden, with Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Laura Bush and Dr. Jill Biden were in Shanksville, Pennsylvania today to participate in a dedication ceremony for the first phase of the Flight 93 National Memorial – a marble “Wall of Names” that enshrines the names of the 40 heroic men and women who, as Vice President Biden said, “gave their lives so others could live theirs” by preventing an attack on our nation’s capitol.

Before an audience that included families and loved ones of those lost, as well as thousands of others there to pay tribute to a remarkable group of Americans, Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky read aloud the names of the 40 passengers and crew as 40 bell chimes rang out in accompaniment. 

The flag that flew above the United States Capitol on September 11, 2001 was ceremonially raised above the memorial, along with the flags of New Zealand, Japan, Germany and Puerto Rico – representing all of the birthplaces of the passengers and crew of Flight 93. 

Vice President Joe Biden and President George W. Bush shake hands with families of the passengers and crew of Flight 93 after the unveiling of the Flight 93 National Memorial, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

“I hope you take comfort in knowing that a grateful nation understands that your loved ones gave their lives in pursuit of the noblest of earthly goals: defending their country, defending their families, sacrificing their lives so we can live ours,” he continued.

More from Vice President Biden’s remarks:

“Even as we struggle with this tragedy, even as we grapple with the profound loss and devastating grief, we can look up at the heavens and think of these heroes and know, know with certitude that there is not a single, solitary tragedy that America cannot overcome.  There is not a single moment of hardship that cannot be transformed into one of national strength.  The seeds of doubt, planted by those who wish to harm us, will instead grow into flowering meadows like this one where we stand in today, for they cannot defeat the American spirit.  We know this with certainty.  We know it with certainty, because it’s the history of the journey of this country at every stage of our history.”…

“As President Clinton knows, my mother used to say, ‘Courage lies in every heart.’  And she would go on to say, ‘And the expectation is that, Joey, one day it will be summoned.’  ‘Courage lies in every heart, and one day it will be summoned.’  On September 11, 2001, at 9:57 a.m., it was summoned and 40 incredible men and women answered the call.  They gave their lives and, in doing so, gave this country a new life.”

“We owe them.  We owe you a debt we can never repay.”

Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden walk past the newly unveiled Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. Also pictured are President George W. Bush and Laura Bush, President Bill Clinton, Secretary Ken Salazar, and Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

In addition to remarks from Presidents Bush and Clinton, Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar, Director of the National Parks Jon Jarvis, President of the Families of Flight 93 Gordon Felt, Chairman of the Flight 93 Memorial Chris Sullivan and Chairman of the Flight 93 Advisory Committee John Reynolds, the ceremony also included a remembrance from Reverend Daniel Coughlin – the Chaplain of the U.S. House of Representatives on the day of the attacks – as well as performances by Sarah McLachlan. 

Following the dedication ceremony, the Vice President and Dr. Biden dropped by the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Station where they visited with firefighters and their families at a barbeque. Outside the station is the cross made of beams from the World Trade Center that the Vice President referenced in his remarks.

Vice President Joe Biden stops by the Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department to thank the firefighers, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, September 10, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden talks with the subjects of a documentary called Rebirth, before a screening in the South Court Auditorium at the White House, September 7, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

As part of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks, Vice President Joe Biden hosted a screening for Washington, DC area college students of REBIRTH, a documentary film that chronicles the lives of five people directly affected by the events on 9/11. The film follows a survivor from the South Tower of the World Trade Center (WTC); a firefighter who survived the collapse of the WTC but lost his best friend; a high school student who lost his mother; a young woman who lost her fiancé; and a construction worker who lost his brother, assisted with recovery efforts, and is presently helping to build the Freedom Tower.

The area college students were invited to the White House screening to reflect on the tragic events that shaped their generation and their country, and that continue to affect the world today. In remarks introducing the film, Vice President Biden emphasized the extraordinary ability of America to find renewal and rebirth even in its darkest hours and praised the courage and determination of the survivors and family members struggling to find renewal in their own lives.

Jim Whitaker, Director and Founder of Project Rebirth, “collapsed 10 years of history into the lives of five incredible people,” said Vice President Biden.  “Through this movie, he tells their stories.  But really in a way he tells us all America's story.  … It's the story of a nation of people who can – will continue for generations because we are a nation about possibilities.  I would argue it's the single most defining feature of America.  It's always about possibilities.  It ultimately always is about tomorrow.  It's always about hope.”

The Vice President also noted how the college students’ generation – the 9/11 generation – has become an integral part of the American story of rebirth as millions have dedicated their lives to serving their country in the years since September 11th, 2001.

“In many ways your generation has changed more than any other generation that witnessed what happened on the 11^th,” said Vice President Biden. “Your generation has more grit and determination, and your generation has contributed already as much as most generations have who are twice your age, when they were twice your age.”

The screening was followed by a question and answer session with Whitaker as well as four of the people featured in the documentary.

Amy Dudley is Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice President.

Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Willard, pay their respects at the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Wednesday, August 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden, accompanied by daughter-in-law Kathleen and his granddaughter Naomi, recently visited Pearl Harbor to pay his respects at the USS Arizona Memorial – a 184-foot structure that rests atop the midsection of the sunken World War Two battleship. This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The USS Arizona, one of 21 battleships attacked on December 7^th, 1941, is the final resting place for 1,177 American crewmen. It represents the greatest loss of life on any ship that day and about half of the total number of Americans killed in the attack.

The Vice President and his family visited the memorial at sunset, and were given a tour by Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command and Admiral Patrick Walsh, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet.  The Vice President had the opportunity to personally reflect on the overwhelming loss of life in the memorial’s sanctuary, where 1,177 names of the fallen are etched in marble on the wall.  Admiral Walsh noted that survivors of the attack have the right to again join their brothers in arms by designating that their final resting place be with their shipmates interred beneath the sea in the USS Arizona.

Sailors stand post in the background as Vice President Joe Biden, U.S. Pacific Commander Admiral Willard, daughter-in-law Kathleen Biden, second from right, and granddaughter Naomi Biden, far right, listen as Paul DePrey of the National Park Service, center, talks about the USS Arizona Memorial during a visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Wednesday, August 24, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The true impact that the tragedy had on individual families hit home after the Bidens observed how many last names were listed multiple times on the wall of the sanctuary. As Admiral Walsh explained, many sets of immediate family members were assigned to the USS Arizona – a common naval practice at the time – including 36 sets of siblings and one father-son pair.

After laying a wreath at the foot of the wall, the Vice President and his family silently sprinkled flower petals into the sea – a symbolic tribute to all those lost in the attack.

For a glimpse into the Vice President’s visit to the USS Arizona memorial, watch here:

Amy Dudley is Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice President.

Vice President Joe Biden talks to survivors of the Japanese tsunami at a temporary housing center in Natori, Japan, Aug. 23, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Biden arrived In Tokyo late Monday evening -- the final leg of his trip through Asia. As he told Prime Minister Naoto Kan, he came to Japan for two main reasons: to express sympathy, admiration, and continued support from the U.S. in the wake of the March 11th earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster, and to reiterate the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance. "We [the United States] are a Pacific power. You are a Pacific power. You are our ally," said the Vice President.

From Tokyo, he traveled 90 miles north to the Sendai region -- one of the hardest hit by the tsunami last March. Delivering remarks on the second floor of Sendai International Airport's main terminal -- where hundreds of residents from nearby neighborhoods fled to escape the tsunami's path -- Vice President Biden praised U.S. Forces Japan  for working around the clock to clear debris and repair a runway that enabled the arrival of hundreds of relief workers, and hundreds of tons of humanitarian assistance.

Vice President Biden also paid tribute to the "incredible spirit" of the Japanese people. The Japanese "remind the world of something equally as forceful as the force of nature," said Vice President Biden. That spirit "is equally as formidable, particularly when we join together in the most trying of times," he said.

After paying his respects at a memorial site where the town of Natori once stood, the Vice President took a short ride to a temporary housing facility that hundreds of Natori residents now call home.  Meeting with displaced survivors and listening to their stories, the Vice President pledged that "America isn't going anywhere" and that U.S. assistance will be available as long as they need it.

Vice President Biden concluded his trip to Japan by delivering remarks to U.S. service members and their families at Yokota Air Base -- headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan.  In his speech, the Vice President thanked the troops for their quick and decisive efforts to help the Japanese people and provide critical assistance in the aftermath of the disaster.

Don't miss the photo gallery of the Vice President's visit to Japan. For complete coverage of his three country trip, click here.

Watch the video of the Vice President in Mongolia.

Arriving at Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan Airport on Monday, Vice President Biden was formally welcomed to Mongolia – the second country on his trip through Asia – by Prime Minster Sukhabaatar Batbold and the sounds of a 32-person honor guard.

From there, it was off to the Government House, set on Ulaanbaatar’s central Sukhbaatar Square, for meetings with Prime Minister Batbold and President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.

Speaking after his meeting with Prime Minister Batbold, Vice President Biden praised Mongolia’s 22 years of democracy. “Mongolia is not just a shining example for other nations in transition,” said the Vice President, “it’s an emerging leader in the worldwide democratic movement, a responsible actor on the world stage, and a close friend and partner of the United States.” 

Vice President also thanked Mongolians for their contributions to international peace and security. Over the past decade, Mongolia’s army, trained as peacekeepers, has been deployed to countries around the world, including Sierra Leone, Chad, Darfur, Kosovo and Western Sahara, as well as tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Before his meeting with President Elbegdorj, Vice President Biden paid a visit to the President’s ceremonial ger – a traditional tent still used by nomadic Mongolians – set up on the fifth floor of the Government House.

After a morning of official business came the ultimate Mongolian cultural experience – a mini-Naadam festival in a field just outside of Ulaanbaatar at the foot of rolling hills encircling the capitol city. Naadams – traditional Mongolian festivals held throughout the country during the summertime – showcase the “Three Games of Men”: Mongolian wrestling, horse racing and archery. The Naadam for Vice President Biden also included traditional music and dance performances, as well as the ceremonial presentation of a gift horse, which the Vice President named Celtic.

For more information about the Vice President's trip to Asia, check out our photo galleries from China and Mongolia and watch his first travelogue from the road. You can follow the Vice President's trip in real time on Twitter, #VPinAsia

Watch the Vice President's full remarks here.

Sichuan University, located in China's rapidly developing southwestern city of Chengdu, was the site of Vice President Biden's major speech on U.S.-China relations on the morning of his 4th day in China. Speaking on a range of issues facing the two largest economies in the world, the Vice President reiterated that a "rising China" is a "positive development, not only for the people of China but for the United States and the world as a whole."

He noted that with increased cooperation between the US and China comes increased competition. "We should reject the misplaced notion of the zero-sum game in which everything one nation achieves somehow comes at the expense of the other," said Vice President Biden (you can watch the full speech, above). Vice President Biden also expressed confidence in America's ability to compete in the 21st century. "The United States is hardwired for innovation," he said. "Openness, free exchange of ideas, free enterprise and liberty are among the reasons why the United States, in my view is at this moment the wealthiest nation in the history of the world. It's why our workers are the most productive, why our inventors and entrepreneurs hold more patents than any other country in the world, why we are reinvesting in the fundamental sources of our strength -- education, infrastructure, innovation -- and why President Obama and I are so confident that America will weather the current economic storm and emerge even stronger."

He was invited to visit the region -- heavily affected by a devastating earthquake in 2008 -- by Vice President Xi. Following the speech in Chengdu, the two traveled to Dujiangyan City where they visited with a local high school class of English language students (see video, below) and toured the city's ancient irrigation site built in 256 BC.

The Vice Presidents concluded their day in Sichuan Province with an informal dinner, and a commitment to build this new direct channel of communication between our two nations.

For more information about the Vice President's trip to Asia, check out our photo gallery and watch his first travelogue from the road. You can follow the Vice President's trip in real time on Twitter, #VPinAsia

Watch the video of Vice Presidents Biden and Xi at a classroom in Dujiangyan.

Vice President Joe Biden sits next to Chinese Vice President Xi a during the roundtable with US and Chinese business leaders at the Beijing Hotel in Beijing, China, August 19, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

The second day in Beijing began in a familiar setting for Vice President Biden. The site of today's U.S.-China Business Dialogue, the Beijing Hotel, was also the site of meetings held during his first trip to China in 1979, when some of the earliest discussions about the possibility of American companies doing business in China took place. Over 30 years later, Vice President Biden and Vice President Xi brought together 19 CEOs and business leaders from the United States and China to bring the conversation into the 21st century. "President Obama and I, we welcome, encourage and see nothing but positive benefits flowing from direct investment in the United States from Chinese businesses and Chinese entities. It means jobs. It means American jobs," said Vice President Biden.

Participants at the roundtable ranged from the CEO of Coca Cola to the Group President of Caterpillar, from the Captain of Cosco to the Board Chairman of Lenovo.

In his opening remarks at the Dialogue, Vice President Xi expressed strong confidence in the U.S. economy, calling it "highly resilient" with "a strong capacity for self-repairment." "We believe that the U.S. economy will achieve even better development as it rises to the challenge," he continued.

Next up for Vice President Biden was a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao at Ziguangge, Zhongnanhai, or, the Leadership Compound, which serves as the primary residence for leaders of the Politburo. 

Seated side by side in the compound's Purple Light Pavillion, Wen praised the Vice President for engaging widely with the sectors in China, both public and private. "You have been sending a very strong message that the further growth of U.S.-China ties is not only important for our two countries, but also for the whole world."

Vice President Biden later took Premier Wen up on an impromptu invitation to tour the lakeside grounds of the compound. Tight schedule in mind, the Vice President joked that he would need a note to explain his tardiness to President Hu, the last meeting of his day back at the Great Hall of the People.

Next stop, Chengdu of Sichuan Province in China's Southwest.

For more information about the Vice President's trip to Asia, check out this photo gallery and watch his first travelogue from the road. You can follow the Vice President's trip in real time on Twitter, #VPinAsia

Later, it was back to the Great Hall of the People, where Vice President Biden met with National People's Congress Chair Wu Bangguo. Noting that his “overwhelming reason” for coming to China was to talk about jobs and growth, Vice President also stressed that a “rebalancing of our economies – yours and ours” is a priority.  

On the agenda tomorrow is a roundtable with U.S. and Chinese business leaders, followed by bilateral meetings with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao.

For more information about the Vice President's trip to Asia, check out this photo gallery and watch his first travelogue from the road. You can follow the Vice President's trip in real time on Twitter, #VPinAsia

Vice President Joe Biden departs a traditional Beijing style snack shop after eating lunch with Ambassador Gary Locke, in Beijing, China, August 18, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke greet the Georgetown Mens basketball team in their locker room before an expo game against China, in Beijing, China, August 17, 2011. August 17, 2011. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Shortly after arriving in Beijing, Vice President Biden joined Georgetown men's basketball fans at the Olympic Sports Center to cheer on the Hoyas in an exhibition game against the Shanxi Zhongyu Brave Dragons -- a member of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).

The team's two-week visit to China reflects an ongoing push to expand people-to-people exchanges between our two countries, as well as an effort to strengthen the U.S.-China relationship through sport.

This time, the Vice President is visiting China at the invitation of Vice President Xi Jinping – the first of the planned reciprocal visits between the Vice Presidents announced by President Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao during his state visit to Washington earlier this year.  One of the primary purposes of the trip is to get to know Vice President Xi. Bottom line – this visit is an investment in the future of the U.S-China relationship.

Our partners at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and the five consulates around China are also using the Vice President’s visit as an opportunity to share American culture and values with Chinese netizens by microblogging and blogging about the trip in Chinese. Their followers on the two largest microblog sites in China – Sina and QQ – number over 1 million. Posts about the Office of the Vice President, interesting facts about Vice President Biden, his upcoming trip to Chengdu, Dr. Biden’s recent call for famine aid to Africa, and Peace Corps Volunteers in Sichuan have generated thousands of positive comments and retweets from Chinese netizens.

In Mongolia – the first visit of a U.S. Vice President to the country since Henry Wallace visited in 1944 – the Vice President will underscore our support for Mongolia’s two decades of democratic development and its Chairmanship of the Community of Democracies. In Ulaanbaatar, the Vice President will meet with Prime Minister Batbold and President Elbegdorj, as well as get a taste of Mongolia’s culture and sporting tradition at a demonstration of the country’s three national sports – archery, wrestling and horse racing.

Following Mongolia, the Vice President will visit a close ally and friend of the United States, Japan, to consult on a broad range of issues. The trip is also an opportunity to highlight Japan’s recovery from the March earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency. The Vice President will meet with Prime Minister Kan and will then travel to the Sendai region to witness the reconstruction effort, as well as have the opportunity to thank American military and civilian personnel for their dedication and hard work in assisting Japan during the triple disaster.

Stay tuned to WH.gov and @VP on Twitter (hashtag #VPinAsia) for extensive updates and coverage of the Vice President’s trip. 

Amy Dudley is Deputy Press Secretary for the Vice President.

Today, the Office of the Vice President launched an official Twitter account – @VP – with a call from Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden asking all Americans to remember our troops and military families on Independence Day.

VP&Dr. B hope you take time to think about our troops & military families this Independence Day, Happy July 4th from OVP! @JoiningForces

@VP is the latest addition to the growing White House community on Twitter and comes as the White House prepares for its first ever Twitter Town Hall with President Obama this Wednesday, July 6^th at 2:00 EDT.

Through @VP, Vice President Biden’s staff will keep followers up to speed on all things happening in the Office of the Vice President (OVP) – from the West Wing, to the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the Office of Dr. Jill Biden, to the Naval Observatory. @VP will be on the road with the Vice President across the country and around the world, providing updates on the latest news and announcements coming out of OVP, as well as a behind the scenes look at Veep-life.

We hope you’ll connect with the Vice President’s office today by following us @VP, as well as tune in to hear the President discuss jobs and the economy with @whitehouse followers at the White House Twitter Town Hall.

Vice President Joe Biden meets with Pope Benedict XVI in his Vatican office, in Vatican City, June 3, 2011. June 3, 2011. (Official White House Photo by Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

On Friday, June 3rd, His Holiness Benedict XVI received Vice President Joe Biden at the Vatican.