Vice President Biden Joins Instagram

Today, we’re excited to announce the Office of the Vice President is joining Instagram to give followers a unique look inside the Vice Presidency. This new social media presence continues efforts by the Vice President’s Office to connect with citizens online, adding to his official Twitter handle and the Being Biden audio series.

The VP's Instagram followers will have access to behind-the-scenes photos from the road and around the White House. And today, as the Vice President joins President Obama in Pennsylvania to announce grants that will spur job training and apprenticeship programs, you’re invited to follow along on Instagram.

Stay tuned for photos and videos from the Vice President – and don't forget to check out our other official Instagram accounts, including: The White House, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Chief Official White House Photographer Pete Souza.

Vice President Biden Speaks at the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour

April 14, 2014 | 8:23 | Public Domain

Vice President Biden welcomes the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour to the State Department.

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Vice President Biden to Travel to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup

WASHINGTON, DC – The Vice President will travel to the Federative Republic of Brazil in June to attend the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  While in Brazil, the Vice President will attend a game of the U.S. national team. 

Additional details about the Vice President’s trip will be released at a later date. 

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The White House

Office of the Vice President

Vice President Biden to Travel to Brazil for the FIFA World Cup

WASHINGTON, DC – The Vice President will travel to the Federative Republic of Brazil in June to attend the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  While in Brazil, the Vice President will attend a game of the U.S. national team. 

Additional details about the Vice President’s trip will be released at a later date. 

The White House

Office of the Vice President

Statement by Vice President Biden on the Passing of Nuala Pell

Jill and I were saddened to hear of the passing of our dear friend, Nuala Pell. She and her husband, Senator Clairborne Pell, were among our closest friends. They embraced me in my earliest days in the Senate, after I had lost my wife and daughter. I spent many memorable evenings in their company, and through all the years we served together, I always knew I had a welcome home in Washington with the Pells. 

I also remember the love and partnership that marked their marriage. Senator Pell used to keep a pillow in his office embroidered with the words, "Happiness is being married to your best friend." Nuala and Claiborne worked side by side on every issue, whether it was on behalf of the elderly, or women's health care, or the arts and humanities, or access to education. After Claiborne passed, Nuala continued her lifetime of service, creating the Nuala Pell Leadership Program in Public Service to give future leaders the skills to enter public service. Her lifetime of service will live on through the next generation of leaders she helped grow, and in the hearts of her many friends.

Weekly Wrap Up: POTUS Honors Fallen Soldiers, Civil Rights Leaders, and More

This week, the President honored soldiers who lost their lives last week at Fort Hood, commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act, and picked up his pen to take action toward ensuring equal pay. Check out what else you may have missed in this week's wrap up.


President Obama at Fort Hood: "Love Never Ends"

On Wednesday, President Obama spoke at a memorial service for the soldiers who lost their lives during last week's shooting at Fort Hood Military Base.

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In his remarks, the President explained that we must honor their lives "not in word or talk, but in deed and in truth." Watch his full remarks here.

Related Topics: Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Texas

President Obama and Vice President Biden’s 2013 Tax Returns

Today, the President released his 2013 federal income tax returns. He and the First Lady filed their income tax returns jointly and reported adjusted gross income of $481,098. The Obamas paid $98,169 in total tax.

The President and First Lady also reported donating $59,251 – or about 12.3 percent of their adjusted gross income – to 32 different charities. The largest reported gift to charity was $8,751 to the Fisher House Foundation. The President’s effective federal income tax rate is 20.4 percent. The President pushed for and signed into law legislation that makes the system more fair and helps the middle class by extending tax cuts to middle class and working families and asks the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share. In 2013, as a result of his policies, the President was subject to limitations in tax preferences, as well as additional Medicare and investment income taxes, for high income earners. The President and First Lady also released their Illinois income tax return and reported paying $23,328 in state income tax.

DOWNLOAD THE OBAMAS' TAX RETURNS

The Vice President and Dr. Jill Biden also released their 2013 federal income tax returns, as well as state income tax returns for both Delaware and Virginia. The Bidens filed joint federal and combined Delaware income tax returns. Dr. Biden filed a separate non-resident Virginia tax return. Together, they reported adjusted gross income of $407,009. The Bidens paid $96,378 in total federal tax for 2013, amounting to an effective tax rate of 23.7 percent. They also paid $14,644 in Delaware income tax and Dr. Biden paid $3,470 in Virginia income tax. The Bidens contributed $20,523 to charity in 2013, including contributing the royalties received from Dr. Biden’s children’s book, net of taxes, to the USO.

DOWNLOAD THE BIDENS' TAX RETURNS

Jay Carney is the White House Press Secretary.

West Wing Week 4/11/14 or, “Love Never Ends”

This week, the President honored Equal Pay Day and signed two executive orders to support efforts to level the playing field for women, pushed for better access to skills-based high school training, hosted the Prime Minister of Tunisia, and traveled with the First Lady to the memorial at Fort Hood and then to Austin, to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

 

West Wing Week 4/11/14 or, “Love Never Ends”

April 10, 2014 | 4:51

This week, the President honored Equal Pay Day and signed two executive orders to support efforts to level the playing field for women, pushed for better access to skills-based high school training, hosted the Prime Minister of Tunisia, and traveled with the First Lady to the memorial at Fort Hood and then to Austin, to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

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Being Biden Vol. 14: Chopper

The audio series Being Biden is an opportunity for the Vice President to give you a window into his daily life, and share some of his most memorable experiences.

In this episode, Vice President Biden talks about what it was like to meet with Trevor, a Navy SEAL, and his military dog Chopper. The two served together in Afghanistan and Iraq, and Chopper saved Trevor's life. Military dogs perform a hugely important service, helping our wounded heal -- in addition to serving them in combat zones.

Listen to this edition of Being Biden:

Related Topics: Veterans

The Vice President and Dr. Biden’s Support for Community Colleges and Apprenticeship Programs

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the 94th Annual Convention of the American Association of Community Colleges in Washington, D.C., April 7, 2014.

Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the 94th Annual Convention of the American Association of Community Colleges. (Official White House Photo by David Lienemann)

Earlier this week, Vice President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden spoke to 1,500 educational leaders at the American Association of Community Colleges 94th Annual Convention.

During the speech, the Vice President recognized that community colleges provide “a trusted pathway to good jobs in the middle class,” and spoke about the importance of matching job openings with skilled workers. The Vice President highlighted the Administration’s work in making higher education more affordable through further investment in Pell Grants and capping federal student loan repayments at 10% of income.

Dr. Biden, a lifelong educator and community college teacher, noted that she has visited innovative workforce partnerships at community colleges around the country – and that they are critical to America’s future.

Sean O’Brien is Director of Speechwriting for the Vice President.
Related Topics: Higher Education