Aboard Air Force One
En Route Austin, Texas
2:44 P.M. EDT
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Indulge me on my topper here.
Good afternoon. We are on our way to Austin, Texas, where President Biden will deliver remarks and commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act during a visit to the LBJ Presidential Library and [with] civil rights advocates, leaders of the LBJ Presidential Foundation, and members of the Johnson family.
President Biden will commemorate this historic anniversary, talk about his administration's work to advance civil rights for all, and discuss his newly proposed reforms for the U.S. Supreme Court.
We'll then head to Houston where the president will pay his respects to Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. No matter the issue — from delivering racial justice to building an economy for working people — the congresswoman was unrelenting in her leadership.
She demonstrated that leadership in her work to reauthorize the Vi- — Violence Against Women Act — Women Act, make Juneteenth a federal holiday, and reintroduce the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
As the president said in his statement last week, "She spoke truth to power and represented the power of the people of her district in Houston with dignity and grace." And he looks forward to honoring her legacy and life.
We are honored to be joined by Lynda and Chuck Robb, Cecile Richards, Reverend Al Sharpton, Marc Morial, and members of the Co- — of Congress on our flight to Austin today.
And I am thrilled to have the director of the Office of Public Engagement, Steve Benjamin, obviously the former mayor of — of Columbus — no — Columbia — Columbia, South Carolina — (laughs) — I gave you a whole new state — here with me to take questions on the president's actions on how — what he's been doing to move forward with civil rights actions.
MR. BENJAMIN: Sure. Well, thank you, Karine. The — the president and vice president continue to travel the country to discuss the extraordinary progress the American people have made in the past three and a half years and ensure the promise of America reaches all communities.
Today, the president will commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act during his visit to the LBJ Presidential Library in Austis — in Austin.
He'll also discuss the Biden-Harris administration's progress advancing civil rights and continued efforts going forward.
From his first day in office and every day since then, President Biden has taken ad- — action to advance civil rights, strengthen American democracy, and protect the rule of law.
He's assembled the most diverse administration in the nation's history; taking executive action on key issues, including police accountability and voting rights; and he's signed two first-of-their-kind executive orders to advance racial equity and support for underserved communities, catalyzing a whole-of-government equity agenda.
As you've likely seen today as well, in today's Washington Post, the president penned an op-ed calling for three bold reforms to restore trust and accountability in the face of increasing threats to America's democratic institutions: no immunity for crimes for a former president committed in office, term limits for Supreme Court justices, and a binding code of conduct for the Supreme Court.
President Biden and Vice President Harris are committed to ensuring that no one is above the law and, in America, the people rule.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Go ahead, Colleen.
Q Mayor, can you tell us a little bit more about what the office will be focused on over the next six months — what your office will be focused on over the next six months? Do you have targets in mind?
MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I will tell you, the president is — he's focused like a laser beam on making sure that the next six months matter to the American people. He is soliciting the ideas and thoughts of the best and bi- — brightest people in this administration but also from across the country, asking people: What — what is left undone? What else do we need to work to secure? And I expect that we will see a very clear articulation over the next several weeks as to which issues those are.
But they're — I mean, obviously, all the issues he's been working on. He's been working to make sure we have accountability in our courts, the — what — obviously, what we're talking about today. We're working to make sure we continue to fortify the strongest economy in the world. And the — that's according to not just Joe Biden and Kamala Harris but to the — the world's top economists. We expect to see more news and — I think in that — going in that direction this week with the jobs report as well as the Fed meeting as well.
We — he's going to continue to focus on lowering costs for families, everything from his whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach to lowering food prices, lowering gas prices, making sure — making sure homes are more affordable.
Many of you were with him in Vegas when he announced his — his housing plan and his — he is focused on making sure that —
that everyone, especially corporate landlords who've watched profits double over the last several years — that they're making sure they take care of hard day — hardworking families across this country as well.
So, he's been doing the right things for the last three and a half years, and he's going to do more of it. But I — I expect you'll hear a very clear articulation as he continues to gather the very best thoughts and ideas from the best, bright — best and bright minds across the country over the next several weeks.
Q Has your office been getting phone calls from allies who want to weigh in on a VP selection for Kamala Harris?
MR. BENJAMIN: No. No, I don't think I'd get those calls.
What we have gotten, however, is an — I mean — I mean, many of — many of you see the — you know, what they're saying — reports. We've — we've gotten hundreds, if not thousands, of — of thoughtful input from those who lead in civil society.
Many of you know our office, Public Engagement. We don't necessarily — although, I probably spent a disproportionate amount of time just with my former colleagues as mayors, with some of our key members of Congress. They interface with the — with the White House. But we deal with civil society: the people who are out there every single day making sure that these policies that have come through, under the president's leadership, work.
So, all of our different business leaders, tra- — trade associations, our civil rights groups, our labor unions; those who fight hard for the L- — the LGBT community, for old people, young people, veterans, those in the disabled community — there's been one common thread through all of them: It's been "thank you" to President Biden. It's been a deep and profound respect for his service.
And, back to the previous question, I think a sense of urgency. There's a whole lot more we've got to get done.
And so, we're going to focus, again, like a laser beam and running through the tape.
Q When — when this visit was first scheduled, the — the president was still running for reelection, the — the sense of his campaign was different, and this trip was different. Can you talk a little bit about how he's thinking about this? He now shares other similarities with LBJ in getting out of a race. Is he thinking about that at all on this trip?
You know, how have you guys sort of reoriented today as opposed to what it looked like when he was initially going to go about two weeks ago?
MR. BENJAMIN: Well, I — I — you'll have a chance to hear the president's speech, and I'll let you in- — interpret that as — as you will.
But I will say the similarities were already there in terms of passing sweeping pieces of legislation that fundamentally changed life for Americans all across this country, particularly a focus on lifting people up, creating ladders of opportunity, creating a true sense and tangible sense of fairness in this country. It was also against the backdrop, just a few weeks ago, of some pretty serious Supreme Court decisions. That — and that — that constant remains clear.
So, his announcement today — certainly, he'll have a chance to interact with the Johnson family. As — as we — we mentioned, we have the former senator and — and Governor Robb and — and his wife here on Air Force One today and several members of the family. There are a significant number of — of leaders from civil society and the civil rights community there as well.
But — but this — this fundamental sense of decency — that we are a government of people, by the people, and for the people that should be ruled by the people; we are not a government to be ruled by kings or queens or monarchs or authoritarians — is something that was very clear weeks ago and even is more clear today. That's been the constant thread in Joe Biden's life, the entirety of his — of his career.
So, I think you'll see those themes through, but I'll let you hear his speech today. But if — if you — I think the greatest constant or — or thread of — of contiguity I'd say is that — you — you had two amazing presidents who probably have had the most fundamental impact on the — on this American experiment, this idea the president talks about — this great republic — more than anyone else in the last 100 years.
Q You mentioned the Supreme Court op-ed and what he's going to say about that today. Can you give us a sense of what he sees as his next steps on that? Making a call for reform is one thing; actually getting that reform to have any sort of traction in Congress is another. The speaker said today it would be "dead on arrival in the House."
MR. BENJAMIN: Well, obviously, we've watched — while we — while we still are pushing — and back to the original question, there are significant pieces of legislation that the president has pushed for that's successfully passed Congress and some that are still wanting: the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act that he's chosen to try and address through executive order.
This will require some type of — of legislative action. And I think the — the great thing about Supreme Court reform is that a significant number of Americans feel very strongly about the issue as well.
The rules that apply to every other federal judge should also apply to the Supreme Court. And I think we're going to have to count on members of Congress on both side of the aisle — sides of the aisle listening to their constituents here. And I expect that you'll see a strong campaign asking for a code of — a code of conduct.
The — the issue around — around term limits, obviously, we've gone 75 years of term limits for — for a presidents — the president of the United States. There is — there's the — the idea the president has proposed is something that speaks fund- — to fundamental fairness: every president, regardless of party, being able to nominate two people to the court. And we'll see if we're able to get the amount of support also needed in Congress for that.
We also — we know — we know, obviously, we're in the last several months of the year, but that's never stopped Joe Biden from fighting — for fighting the — hard for the American people.
But there's also this — this fundamental issue around the idea that anyone should be exempt from being held accountable for crimes committed, regardless of what position you hold in the United States of America, is something that I know Americans also feel very strongly about.
And I expect that the president will lean strongly on that sense to try and create the — the support that he needs in the — in the Congress to make it happen.
Q To bounce on that —
Q Just to follow up on Jeff's question — again, not — to follow up on Jeff on the Supreme Court reform. Do you think that this is a realistic goal for this year, or do you think people should view this more a legacy-building measure at this point?
MR. BENJAMIN: I think it's important. I believe it's timely. And I know it's important to the president because it's important to the American people.
So, I mean — I mean, you think about all the times people have told Joe Biden "no" over the course of his career, and he's still moving forward. He can't stop, and he won't stop.
So, we're going to give it — we're going to give it the old team try.
Q On the timing of this, how long has he been thinking about this? And then, why do this now? Kind of bouncing off of what they were asking, just give us a sense of why roll this out at this point.
MR. BENJAMIN: I'd have to defer to the president on that. But, obviously, there's a deep sense of — of attachment to this process. I mean, he talked about his time as — as a senator, as vice president, as president. I mean, literally has been involved in more judicial nominations probably than any other person maybe in the last 100 years, maybe in the — in the history of — of the republic.
So, I know he feels very deeply. We — we spent a great deal of time advising him on judicial nominations, so — so I know this is something that's probably been ruminating in him for quite some time. So, you have — obviously you have a collective sense of — of items that have come across over the last several years, but just over the last several months, we've seen some real red flags in terms of judicial conduct that have — that have become very real.
And then, certainly, the Supreme Court's ruling this past month, I think, would probably say — in terms of, you know, say maybe an immediate cause, certainly, probably brought it to the — to the fore.
Q And will he continue —
Q Mayor —
Q — talking about this or is today a one-off speech? Like, should we expect him to keep going out there?
MR. BENJAMIN: I — I expect he will. I expect he will.
Q How — how involved was Vice President Harris in the Supreme Court decision-making on this? Did she play any role at all or was this really more of the president's own making?
MR. BENJAMIN: I'll — I'll have to let the president answer that. I know they spend a great deal of time together and they confer. They're very close, as you can tell, on any number of issues. I'll have to defer to the president on that.
Q Just on the term limit issue. Does the president envision this getting accomplished through legislation —
MR. BENJAMIN: Yes.
Q — or is that something that would have to be done through —
MR. BENJAMIN: Through legislation.
Q — a constitutional amendment?
MR. BENJAMIN: Through legislation that would lead to a constitutional amendment, yeah.
Yes.
Q We're heading to Congressman Doggett's district. There's a long list of people on this plane. He is not among them. He was also one of the first Democrats to ask the president to not run for reelection. Do you guys have any sense of was — was he asked? Was he not asked to be a part of the delegation?
MR. BENJAMIN: I — I have no idea. I do know he's — he's greeting the president on his arrival into the district.
Q Oh, okay.
MR. BENJAMIN: Am I — I am correct in that, right?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Say what?
MR. BENJAMIN: Congressman Doggett is —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I be- — I (inaudible).
MR. BENJAMIN: Yeah, he's — he's on the tarmac there. So, he's (inaudible). Okay.
Q Just in the final six months, do you think the president is going to use executive action more frequently to accomplish some of his goals, just given, you know, that not much is likely to get through Congress?
MR. BENJAMIN: The president has not been reticent about when he believes something is right and he has legal authority to get it done, he moves forward, especially when it's in the interest of — of hardworking Americans. I mean, he's done that by executive order when he — when it's been clear he has the authority. And I — I don't expect that to change one bit.
Joe Biden is Joe Biden. Thank God he is.
Q You told Colleen we'll hear more in the coming weeks about some of the things your office will be doing now until the end of the term. But does that game plan change with Kamala Harris as the top of the ticket? Do you guys have different issues that you would put forward to help her in the campaign?
MR. BENJAMIN: Well, we've been — no. No, we've been focused on — we've been — even the last several weeks that the — the direction we've gotten from the president and his chief of staff is that — they said, "Keep your head down; keep your head up." You know, keep your head up and keep your head down and run though the tape. I mean, that — that's it. We're going to run through the tape either way. There's so many important things to get done. And that — that advice and counsel hasn't changed.
Obviously, now we're — we're going to be focused very intently on — on some things that have to get done now. But that's — that's the focus, just getting the work done for the American people without — without focusing on the politics of this.
Q What has to get done?
MR. BENJAMIN: That's going to be up to the boss. That's going to be up to the boss. And — but when I say that we're literally spending time ideating over — conferring with a lot of folks whose opinions he values the most on — on what should be on that list, it's — it's happened as — as recently as on this plane. So — (laughs) — yeah, some people shared ideas.
Q Can you give us a clue?
MR. BENJAMIN: No, no, I mean, I think — I think there's — there are any number of different items from — you know, continue to deploy the amazing resources from the Inflation Reduction Act and the — and CHIPS implementation; you know, some of the amazing work around the Climate Corps. But, really, housing. I mean, hou- — housing — housing affordability and housing supply and making sure that each of these things that he's focused on the last several weeks that's just fundamentally important to the American people — you're going to see more and more of that.
You're going to see a — even a continued focus on — on driving down costs for everyday Americans as well.
Is that enough? (Laughter.)
Q That's good. That's good.
Q Great. Thanks.
Q I'll take more.
MR. BENJAMIN: I owe you a reply email as well.
Q I'll take more.
MR. BENJAMIN: (Laughs.)
Q You did say a couple "You'll have to ask the president."
Q Yeah.
MR. BENJAMIN: Yeah.
Q So, if you want to bring him back —
MR. BENJAMIN: Yes —
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: All right. Thank you so much, Mayor.
Q Thank you.
MR. BENJAMIN: All right. Thank you all so much. All right? Be well. Godspeed. All right.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Good to see you, guys. Godspeed.
Q A good try.
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Laughs.) A couple of things I do want to weigh in on that you all asked — I think a question that — that you asked, Jeff. So, there has been conservative support, GOP support for this: term limits. And just — I just want to just read off a couple of thing — a couple of voices that spoken to this.
For example, last year, a bipartisan group of legal experts included — including retired judges and Charles Fried, Ronald Reagan's solicitor general, endorsed term limits to the Supreme Court. Then you had Steven Calabresi, the chairman of the Federalist Society, who served in the administrations of President Reagan, George H.W. Bush and also endorsed term limits. And you also had Senator Marco — Marco Rubio has also supported term limits, among other congressional — other congressional leaders.
And, you know, I — I know there's a question why this is doo- — this is, like, doomed on arrival, as — as I think you were just stating for what the speaker —
Q "Dead on arrival."
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Dead — dead — doomed, dead — dead on arrival.
Look, the — the president and the vice president believe that no one is above the — above the law, right? The rule of law is part of our democracy. And the debate begins. We see this as a debate, a beginning of a conversation. And, look, as I just read, there are bipartisan support for this. And so, this is important.
The president is meeting the moment. We saw this — some decisions from the Supreme Court just the past several weeks, and he's meeting the moment. And I think that's when you're asking about "why now?" and — and, obviously, he kind of answers this in his Washington Post op-ed. There — we saw what happened the past several weeks. So, that's that.
And then one more thing. I know, Colleen, you have something that you want to ask about the vice president being involved. Yes, she has. She was indeed involved in this. The president consulted her closely. Let's not forget that she — that — that she was a former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as a former attorney general.
So, he certainly — he certainly, you know, was — listened to her expertise in this — in this arena as well. So, she was definitely involved in this decision.
Go ahead.
Q So, I guess I wonder if this is important to the president. You know, he convened the Commission on the Supreme Court sort of right when he took office at a time when he had a much more sympathetic Congress. So, I guess I wonder — I know you were sort of answering why now. But, you know, if this was such an important thing for the president to do, why not do it when he had a better chance of getting it across the finish line?
MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, the best way to answer this is just really quote the president himself. And he said:
"I — I served as a U.S. senator for 36 years, including as chairman or [and] ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. I have overseen more Supreme Court nominations as senator, vice president, and president than anyone living today. I have great respect for our institutions and [the] separation of powers.
What is happening — what is happening now is not normal, and if — it undermines the public's confidence in the court's decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in — in a breach."
And so, President Biden is concerned about the extreme decisions — right? — that we have seen just recently — really recently, including granting presidents immunity for committing crimes while in office. And this also comes after investigating reporting that raise serious questions about judicial ethics at the court.
And this is what I was saying at the — at the beginning. He's meeting a moment, especially what we've seen the court do the past several weeks. And this is what we're seeing right now.
Obviously, he did have a commission. It took them some while. He respects the commission and — and certainly the feedback that they gave him. But, certainly, this was a process.
But what — what made him act now is what he has seen in the past several weeks.
