The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery by Dr. Jill Biden at the 2015 Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence Award Ceremony

Good afternoon, everyone.

Thank you, Ellen.  The work that you are doing to help more students succeed is making a difference.

Now, more than ever, Americans are relying on community colleges to provide the stepping stones to a college degree and a better future.  Our nation’s prosperity—strengthening the middle class—truly depends on our higher education system delivering more high-quality degrees to an increasingly diverse group of students.

Helping more students go to college, stay in school, and earn their diploma is vital to the future of our economy, because in the next five years—by 2020—two out of three job openings will require some form of higher education. That’s why I believe this is the moment for community colleges to shine, and the institutions that Aspen honors today are leading by example. 

Congratulations to all of the Aspen Prize finalists! These schools are reinventing what it means to be the community’s college.  They’re partnering with local employers to provide students with the skills they need to move into jobs that already exist in their communities. They’re creating clear-cut, affordable pathways for those who want to move on to a four-year university. They’re providing the flexibility that is needed for working parents to pursue their degree or obtain new skills.

The Aspen Prize gives us an opportunity to highlight the “best of the best,” to celebrate community colleges that are excelling, and to give all other schools the opportunity to consider adapting those best practices on their own campuses.  So, thank you to the Aspen Institute, the supporters, and the many people who worked so hard to get to this day.  You have helped these institutions get the recognition they so rightfully deserve.

Both in my classroom at NOVA, and when I am on the road visiting community colleges across the country, I am fortunate to see the tremendous impact community colleges have on so many students.

I see it in students like Erica, whom I met in Gainesville, Florida, last week.  As she told me, Erica almost dropped out of high school due to a bad relationship…with algebra.  As a mother of three, when Erica decided to go back to school, she found that the flexible class schedule, and the support and encouragement from the teachers and faculty at Santa Fe College, were exactly what she needed to succeed.  Not only did Erica pass her classes, but she thrived in the community college atmosphere.  She was a student ambassador and participated in the honors program.  After earning her degree from Santa Fe College, Erica is now enrolled at the University of Florida.

I see it in Christopher, a community college student whom I met at South-by-Southwest (SXSWedu) in Austin, Texas.  After high school, Christopher chose an out-of-state school that was more expensive than he could afford.  During his second year of college, even with his parents’ help, Christopher had to take out student loans and work two jobs to pay for tuition.  He knew something had to change. So, he moved closer to home and is attending Houston Community College where tuition is more affordable.  He’s now taking classes that support his dreams of going to business school, and has been accepted to Texas Tech for the fall semester.

I also see it in Jenny, a middle-aged mom of a newborn daughter.  Jenny works full time, mostly at night and on weekends so she can spend a few moments with her family between classes and work.  Her daughter was a big motivation for going back to school, but Jenny had math anxiety, and it was a stumbling block when she started thinking about all the math that she would have to do to get her degree.  Then, Jenny enrolled in Austin Community College’s innovative developmental math course, which takes place in lab the size of a football field, with over 600 computers, where students are allowed to work at their own pace, and have hands-on guidance from teachers—it has completely changed how Jenny looks at math.  In fact, she enjoys math so much that Jenny is looking to complete her degree and become a math teacher.

In reality, these are the typical community college students: mostly older, juggling work, school, and family.  That’s also what makes community colleges so special—they’re innovative and have the ability to adapt to the needs of all students, and put them on a path to reach their full potential. 

One day soon, community colleges will be free. As an educator, I am proud to be part of an Administration that is committed to investing in our students, and restoring the promise of the American education system.

I have worked with so many of you in this room: I gave my first commencement address at Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn; El Paso Community College joined us at the first-ever White House Summit on Community Colleges; and, just two months ago, the President, Vice President and I joined Governor Haslam at Pellissippi State Community College in Tennessee where the President announced his proposal to make the first two years of community college free for responsible students.

I look forward to continue working with all of you in the months ahead to provide all students with the opportunity that they deserve to get a quality education.

We all have our own stories on why we are passionate about education.  I grew up in the sixties—I’m a sixties girl from Philly.  Before Joe, the men I dated wore jeans and clogs, and my hair was down past my waist, and some of theirs was too.  So, when a clean-cut Senator asked me out on a date, and showed up at my door wearing a suit and leather loafers, I wasn’t quite sure.  But what we found in one another was a shared sense of responsibility, and a passion to level the playing field.

Throughout his career in the Senate, and now as Vice President, my husband Joe has fought to lift up the middle class—to give all Americans a fair shot at the American Dream.

The same principle is the reason why I teach at a community college.  I teach because I believe education is the great equalizer.   Every day in my classroom I see the power of education to break down barriers, to open students’ eyes to the possibilities around them, and to provide them with opportunity to grow into the people they aspire to be.  You understand that better than anyone.   

Thank you again for all of your hard work, and congratulations.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 18, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Calls with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and Presidential Candidate Muhammadu Buhari

Vice President Biden spoke today with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari ahead of the Nigerian presidential election, which is scheduled for March 28. The Vice President commended President Jonathan and General Buhari for signing the Abuja Accord in mid-January as a show of their commitment to non-violence throughout the election process. The Vice President further expressed the United States’ support for the Nigerian Independent National Electoral Commission and its work to deliver free, fair, and credible elections, in part through its essential efforts to distribute Permanent Voter Cards and help ensure that electronic voter card readers are in place and fully operational. He also noted his concern about the violence during some recent election-related events and reiterated the need for both candidates to make clear that such violence has no place in democratic elections. Vice President Biden affirmed that the United States stands with the Nigerian people in support of credible and peaceful elections, and will continue to stand with the Nigerian people whatever the outcome.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to discuss the implementation of the Minsk agreements of September 2014 and February 2015. Both leaders expressed their support for the agreements and called on Russia and Russia-backed separatists to fully implement the provisions of the agreements calling for a ceasefire and verified withdrawal of heavy weapons, unfettered access for OSCE monitors, and exchange of all prisoners. President Poroshenko also noted that Ukraine had taken additional steps in keeping with the Minsk agreements to delineate the provisions of the law on special status passed by the Rada in September 2014. Finally, both leaders welcomed the disbursement of the first tranche of the new IMF program for Ukraine.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 13, 2015

Readout of Vice President Biden's Call with President Dilma Rousseff of Brazil

The Vice President and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff spoke on the phone this morning to review joint efforts to advance dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Brazil on a number of issues, including security, energy, trade, and global cooperation. The Vice President reaffirmed the strategic importance of the bilateral relationship, and emphasized President Obama’s and his commitment to working with President Rousseff to advance our increasingly common interests as two hemispheric and global partners.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 11, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko regarding the situation in the east, additional non-lethal U.S. security assistance to Ukraine, and new sanctions on Russian-backed separatists and their supporters. The Vice President noted with concern the ongoing violations of the ceasefire by Russia-backed separatists near Donetsk and Mariupol and their refusal to allow OSCE monitors unfettered access to the territory they occupy.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 10, 2015

Op-Ed by the Vice President on the Administration’s Efforts to Assist Countries in Central America

In an op-ed published in The Hill, the Vice President outlines the Administration’s commitment to Central America. The op-ed can be found HERE.

Investing in a secure, stable Central America

By Vice President Joe Biden

Earlier this month, I spent two days in Guatemala meeting with Central American leaders about our mutual efforts to tackle one of the most significant and urgent challenges facing the Western Hemisphere: bringing stability to this impoverished and violent region.

The President and I are determined to address conditions in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and help these countries on their path to economic prosperity. To that end, we requested $1 billion in next year’s budget to help Central America’s leaders make the difficult reforms and investments required to put the region on a more stable and sustainable path.

But we are just as determined to see these countries make their own commitments to depart from business as usual and embark on a serious new effort to deliver opportunity and security to their long-suffering people.

As I told these leaders back in June — and I reiterated earlier this month — as long as you are on the path to meaningful and lasting change, the United States will be there with you.

What we have seen since then has not been business as usual in Central America. With our support, the leaders of the region have committed themselves to a joint plan with the Inter-American Development Bank called the Alliance for Prosperity. It includes reforms of the police systems, the expansion of community centers to create the conditions we know prevent migration, measures to reduce poverty, steps to attract foreign investment and the continuation of our successful efforts to target smuggling networks.

These are challenges the region has long faced but lacked the political will necessary to address. Even before my recent visit, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras had quickly taken steps to start implementing the Alliance for Prosperity. Honduras signed an agreement with an international nongovernmental organization to increase governmental transparency. Guatemala has added new law enforcement officers and reassigned others to areas most in need, helping to reduce Guatemala’s murder rate by one-third. El Salvador passed a law providing new protections for investors.

And during my visit, the region’s leaders signed on to time frames, benchmarks and a first set of measurable commitments. For example, they committed to:

Create independent governmental auditing mechanisms by the end of 2015 to ensure their citizens’ tax dollars — and U.S. assistance — are used as effectively as possible;

Update regulations to promote a regional electricity market and complete the construction of a gas pipeline from Mexico to Central America, making energy more affordable for consumers;

Train additional police officers and expand centers in high-crime neighborhoods for at-risk youth; and

Develop programs to address domestic violence and promote women’s domestic empowerment by 2016, and to send experts to help.

A great deal of work lies ahead.  We have requested $1 billion for Central America in 2016 because Central America cannot do it alone. If the United States is not present, these reforms will falter. But the combination of Central American political will and international support can be transformative, especially since the three governments have committed to match or exceed international assistance to their countries. We intend to focus our assistance in three areas.

• First, improvements in security are essential. El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras have three of the five highest per capita murder rates in the world. But some communities in Guatemala and El Salvador are already seeing reductions in violence from well-proven U.S.-sponsored programs in community policing, specialized training, and youth centers similar to the Boys and Girls Clubs.  We want to help their governments extend these programs to help stabilize neighborhoods and eradicate transnational criminal networks that threaten Central America’s communities and our own.

• Second, in the 21st century, good governance is essential to attracting jobs and investment. Court systems, government contracting and tax collection are not widely perceived as fair or transparent. The countries of Central America have some of the lowest effective tax rates in the Americas. Central American countries need to do a better job collecting and managing revenues to invest in their own futures. We will assist in these efforts.

• Third, we are ready to offer technical expertise to help Central American countries attract significantly greater private investment. It’s no secret what is required: clear and streamlined rules and regulations, protections for investors, curbs on corruption, courts that adjudicate disputes fairly, and protections for intellectual property.

As we request $1 billion from the United States Congress to empower Central American leaders to address each of these challenges, our own government needs to move quickly to show results and hold ourselves accountable as well. That means rigorously evaluating our programs to build on what works and eliminate what doesn’t deliver the impact we need. The process is already underway, and we look forward to working closely with Congress to craft the most effective assistance package.

This level of support is nearly three times what we have provided to Central America in the recent past. But the cost of investing now in a Central America where young people can thrive in their own communities pales in comparison to the costs of another generation of violence, poverty, desperation and emigration.

The challenges ahead are formidable. Solving them will take years. But Central America’s leaders have now laid out a shared plan to move their region forward and taken the first steps to make it a reality. If they can deliver, Central America can become the next great success story of the Western Hemisphere.

We seek Congress’s help to make it so.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2015

Statement by the Vice President on the March 9 Letter From Republican Senators to the Islamic Republic of Iran

I served in the United States Senate for thirty-six years. I believe deeply in its traditions, in its value as an institution, and in its indispensable constitutional role in the conduct of our foreign policy. The letter sent on March 9th by forty-seven Republican Senators to the Islamic Republic of Iran, expressly designed to undercut a sitting President in the midst of sensitive international negotiations, is beneath the dignity of an institution I revere. 

This letter, in the guise of a constitutional lesson, ignores two centuries of precedent and threatens to undermine the ability of any future American President, whether Democrat or Republican, to negotiate with other nations on behalf of the United States. Honorable people can disagree over policy. But this is no way to make America safer or stronger.

Around the world, America’s influence depends on its ability to honor its commitments. Some of these are made in international agreements approved by Congress. However, as the authors of this letter must know, the vast majority of our international commitments take effect without Congressional approval. And that will be the case should the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, and Germany reach an understanding with Iran. There are numerous similar cases. The recent U.S.-Russia framework to remove chemical weapons from Syria is only one recent example. Arrangements such as these are often what provide the protections that U.S. troops around the world rely on every day. They allow for the basing of our forces in places like Afghanistan. They help us disrupt the proliferation by sea of weapons of mass destruction. They are essential tools to the conduct of our foreign policy, and they ensure the continuity that enables the United States to maintain our credibility and global leadership even as Presidents and Congresses come and go. 

Since the beginning of the Republic, Presidents have addressed sensitive and high-profile matters in negotiations that culminate in commitments, both binding and non-binding, that Congress does not approve. Under Presidents of both parties, such major shifts in American foreign policy as diplomatic recognition of the People’s Republic of China, the resolution of the Iran hostage crisis, and the conclusion of the Vietnam War were all conducted without Congressional approval. 

In thirty-six years in the United States Senate, I cannot recall another instance in which Senators wrote directly to advise another country—much less a longtime foreign adversary— that the President does not have the constitutional authority to reach a meaningful understanding with them. This letter sends a highly misleading signal to friend and foe alike that that our Commander-in-Chief cannot deliver on America’s commitments—a message that is as false as it is dangerous.

The decision to undercut our President and circumvent our constitutional system offends me as a matter of principle. As a matter of policy, the letter and its authors have also offered no viable alternative to the diplomatic resolution with Iran that their letter seeks to undermine.   

There is no perfect solution to the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear program. However, a diplomatic solution that puts significant and verifiable constraints on Iran’s nuclear program represents the best, most sustainable chance to ensure that America, Israel, and the world will never be menaced by a nuclear-armed Iran. This letter is designed to convince Iran's leaders not to reach such an understanding with the United States. 

The author of this letter has been explicit that he is seeking to take any action that will end President Obama’s diplomatic negotiations with Iran. But to what end? If talks collapse because of Congressional intervention, the United States will be blamed, leaving us with the worst of all worlds. Iran’s nuclear program, currently frozen, would race forward again. We would lack the international unity necessary just to enforce existing sanctions, let alone put in place new ones. Without diplomacy or increased pressure, the need to resort to military force becomes much more likely—at a time when our forces are already engaged in the fight against ISIL. 

The President has committed to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He has made clear that no deal is preferable to a bad deal that fails to achieve this objective, and he has made clear that all options remain on the table. The current negotiations offer the best prospect in many years to address the serious threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions. It would be a dangerous mistake to scuttle a peaceful resolution, especially while diplomacy is still underway.

The White House

Office of the Vice President

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2015

Readout of the Vice President’s Call with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski

Vice President Joe Biden spoke today with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski about bilateral relations, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, and European energy security. The Vice President noted U.S.-Polish relations were excellent and agreed to continue close consultations with Poland about threats to European security, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The Vice President and President Komorowski agreed that Russia and Russia-backed separatists had to fulfill all of the obligations under the Minsk agreements, including unfettered access for OSCE monitors seeking to verify the withdrawal of heavy weapons, the withdrawal of Russian troops and equipment from Ukrainian territory, and return to Ukrainian control of the international border by the end of the year. They agreed that any further escalation of the conflict by Russia would be met by increasing costs.  On energy security, the leaders agreed on the importance of infrastructure projects that would help create a single, integrated energy market in Europe.

West Wing Week: 03/06/2015 or, “Just a Souvenir!”

Adam Garber
Adam Garber
March 06, 2015
11:55 AM EST

This week, the President broke bread with My Brother's Keeper mentees, sat down with the President of Liberia and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, shared the stage with Eric Holder and Aretha Franklin, and welcomed law enforcement officials and Peace Corps volunteers to the White House. While the Vice President was in Guatemala to discuss investing in Central America. That's February 27 to March 5 or, "Just a Souvenir!"

Related Topics: Defense, Education, Inside the White House

West Wing Week: 03/06/2015 or, “Just a Souvenir!”

March 06, 2015 | 4:43 | Public Domain

This week, the President broke bread with My Brother's Keeper mentees, sat down with the President of Liberia and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, shared the stage with Eric Holder and Aretha Franklin, and welcomed law enforcement officials and Peace Corps volunteers to the White House. While the Vice President was in Guatemala to discuss investing in Central America. That's February 27th to March 5th or "Just a Souvenir!"

Download mp4 (156MB)