WEBVTT 00:00.009 --> 00:00.740 OK . . 00:13.869 --> 00:16.091 Thank you , General Donohue . And thank 00:16.091 --> 00:18.313 you for your leadership here at Liberty 00:18.680 --> 00:21.340 through joining forces . My White House 00:21.350 --> 00:23.790 initiatives , support military and 00:23.799 --> 00:26.100 veterans families , caregivers and 00:26.110 --> 00:28.659 survivors . I've traveled to bases 00:28.670 --> 00:31.020 across this country and around the 00:31.030 --> 00:33.849 world and I've sat with military 00:33.860 --> 00:36.979 families just like yours to learn about 00:36.990 --> 00:39.700 their experiences and their challenges , 00:40.389 --> 00:43.200 even though every story is unique . 00:43.639 --> 00:47.290 Again and again , I hear the same thing 00:47.810 --> 00:50.310 that you're proud of your family 00:50.319 --> 00:53.610 service , but you miss the careers that 00:53.619 --> 00:56.659 you've had to leave behind that you're 00:56.669 --> 00:59.569 stuck looking for work that doesn't put 00:59.580 --> 01:02.200 your education and your experience to 01:02.209 --> 01:06.019 good use that you take the jobs that 01:06.029 --> 01:09.330 you can get even if you don't want them 01:09.339 --> 01:12.339 because , well , there are bills to pay . 01:13.220 --> 01:15.800 You told me that the life of a military 01:15.809 --> 01:18.930 spouse is rewarding in so many ways , 01:19.330 --> 01:22.779 but it isn't easy . And as I was having 01:22.790 --> 01:25.839 these conversations , joining forces 01:25.849 --> 01:28.269 was working with military spouse , 01:28.279 --> 01:31.739 employee resource groups at agencies 01:31.750 --> 01:34.550 across the government to figure out the 01:34.559 --> 01:36.529 solutions that could make the 01:36.540 --> 01:39.860 difference in your lives . And when we 01:39.870 --> 01:43.400 brought these stories back to Joe , he 01:43.410 --> 01:46.930 listened , he understands , 01:49.730 --> 01:52.430 he understands that we can't ask our 01:52.440 --> 01:55.459 service members to choose between love 01:55.470 --> 01:58.190 of country and their love of family . 01:59.139 --> 02:01.730 He knows that supporting military 02:01.739 --> 02:05.080 spouses is a national security 02:05.089 --> 02:08.789 imperative and in the last two years , 02:08.800 --> 02:11.710 he's done so much to respond to the 02:11.720 --> 02:15.039 challenges that you all face . He's 02:15.050 --> 02:18.360 committed all agencies to partner with 02:18.369 --> 02:21.789 the Department of Defense to hire 02:21.800 --> 02:25.339 military spouses and he signed an 02:25.350 --> 02:29.270 executive historic executive order 02:29.279 --> 02:31.399 to improve care for hard working 02:31.410 --> 02:34.009 families , including military and 02:34.020 --> 02:36.729 veteran families . Today , 02:37.119 --> 02:40.919 thanks to you , Joe is helping our 02:40.929 --> 02:44.649 country take yet another step forward 02:44.660 --> 02:47.740 with an executive order that addresses 02:47.750 --> 02:50.940 the challenges for those in the federal 02:50.949 --> 02:54.429 workforce . Those looking to take a job 02:54.440 --> 02:58.059 with them when they pcs overseas or 02:58.070 --> 03:00.160 spouses trying to start their own 03:00.169 --> 03:03.080 business . And this will not only 03:03.089 --> 03:06.740 benefit active duty spouses but 03:06.750 --> 03:09.169 veteran spouses , caregivers and 03:09.179 --> 03:12.460 survivors as well . This 03:12.470 --> 03:15.929 moment , this moment belongs to your 03:15.940 --> 03:19.800 community . So I want to thank all the 03:19.809 --> 03:23.240 military spouses everywhere who made it 03:23.250 --> 03:26.190 possible . Thank you for sharing your 03:26.199 --> 03:29.899 stories . Thank you for trusting us to 03:29.910 --> 03:32.960 make this right . Of course , we know 03:32.970 --> 03:35.080 that this order won't solve the 03:35.089 --> 03:37.580 challenges of spouse unemployment on 03:37.589 --> 03:41.119 its own . So we're calling on employers 03:41.130 --> 03:43.979 everywhere to do their part , 03:44.300 --> 03:48.250 recruit military spouses offer flexible 03:48.259 --> 03:50.690 work opportunities so that you can 03:50.699 --> 03:54.000 retain their talent no matter where in 03:54.009 --> 03:57.720 the world they are working . Yes , it's 03:57.729 --> 03:59.940 vital for the future of our nation , 04:00.139 --> 04:02.770 but it's also a great way to find the 04:02.779 --> 04:05.410 dynamic talent that your businesses 04:05.419 --> 04:09.250 need . Spouses , bring experience 04:09.259 --> 04:12.649 and adaptability that really can't be 04:12.660 --> 04:14.770 taught . And when they get the 04:14.779 --> 04:17.600 opportunities that they deserve , our 04:17.660 --> 04:20.709 service members can do their duty , 04:20.890 --> 04:24.630 knowing that those they love most are 04:24.640 --> 04:28.630 able to thrive , we all benefit . 04:28.970 --> 04:32.429 So with all of my heart , thank you for 04:32.440 --> 04:35.989 your service and your sacrifice . 04:37.269 --> 04:39.649 And now I'm proud to welcome someone 04:39.660 --> 04:42.640 who knows why this executive order is 04:42.649 --> 04:46.000 so important because it's made 04:46.279 --> 04:49.980 for people like her . Tiffany , thank 04:49.989 --> 04:52.850 you for your service as an army spouse 04:52.859 --> 04:55.540 and as a proud Womack army medical 04:55.549 --> 04:58.399 center employee . Here's Tiffany . 05:07.850 --> 05:11.130 Thank you , Doctor Biden . My name is 05:11.140 --> 05:13.670 Tiffany Zoller . I'm a military spouse 05:13.679 --> 05:16.179 of five years and my husband is 05:16.190 --> 05:18.940 sergeant first class Lee Zoller . We 05:18.950 --> 05:21.200 have two handsome sons , Jaden who's 05:21.209 --> 05:24.980 nine and Jackson who's three . I'm also 05:24.989 --> 05:27.230 a federal employee . I work for the 05:27.239 --> 05:29.072 dental department at Womack Army 05:29.079 --> 05:31.279 Medical Center for the Advanced 05:31.290 --> 05:34.320 Education and General Dentistry program . 05:34.510 --> 05:36.970 It's a two year residency clinic here 05:36.980 --> 05:40.570 at For Liberty . I love what I do as a 05:40.579 --> 05:42.820 secretary of the program and appreciate 05:42.829 --> 05:45.890 the people I work with . I was able to 05:45.899 --> 05:47.899 get the opportunity to support this 05:47.910 --> 05:50.000 program due to the military spouse 05:50.010 --> 05:52.950 hiring authority . I may still be 05:52.959 --> 05:55.269 looking for employment if that door was 05:55.279 --> 05:58.549 not open for me . I'm personally 05:58.559 --> 06:00.670 grateful for the recognition and 06:00.679 --> 06:03.399 support the Biden administration is 06:03.410 --> 06:06.040 giving to military spouses and their 06:06.049 --> 06:10.000 families . This allows this support is 06:10.010 --> 06:12.279 so important to allow families like 06:12.290 --> 06:15.440 mine to thrive while our loved ones are 06:15.450 --> 06:19.410 serving in uniform . And it is now 06:19.420 --> 06:22.959 my honor to introduce the president of 06:22.970 --> 06:25.089 the United States , Joe Biden . 06:35.700 --> 06:39.339 Thanks . Oh , for 06:39.350 --> 06:39.970 liberty . 06:43.540 --> 06:45.707 It's great to be back in the center of 06:45.707 --> 06:49.690 the universe . All you crazy guys that 06:49.700 --> 06:53.679 jump out of planes . Thanks 06:53.690 --> 06:55.801 so much for that introduction and for 06:55.801 --> 06:57.968 your family's service to our country . 06:57.968 --> 07:00.134 General Donohoe Command Sergeant Major 07:00.134 --> 07:02.559 Holland , general officers , the 07:02.570 --> 07:04.626 governor of the Great State of North 07:04.626 --> 07:07.309 Carolina is here with us . Congressman 07:07.320 --> 07:09.320 from the district is here with us . 07:09.320 --> 07:11.487 It's an honor to be here with you this 07:11.487 --> 07:13.709 afternoon . I'm not going to take a lot 07:13.709 --> 07:12.970 of your time . 07:20.559 --> 07:22.781 You know , people like to joke when the 07:22.781 --> 07:25.880 president calls 911 , the phone rings 07:25.890 --> 07:29.109 at Fort Liberty . Well , that's not too 07:29.119 --> 07:32.369 far from the truth . When you answer , 07:32.769 --> 07:34.950 you answer freedom's call every time 07:35.420 --> 07:37.899 you , it's you who take on so many of 07:37.910 --> 07:40.021 the nationals , the nation's toughest 07:40.021 --> 07:42.600 missions you deploy quickly and quietly , 07:43.049 --> 07:44.993 you risk your safety , protect the 07:44.993 --> 07:46.938 safety of Americans all across the 07:46.938 --> 07:49.049 world and all around the world . I've 07:49.049 --> 07:51.105 been in over 80 countries seeing how 07:51.105 --> 07:53.105 you work and you're incredible . We 07:53.105 --> 07:56.010 literally have the single finest 07:56.019 --> 07:58.075 fighting force in the history of the 07:58.075 --> 08:00.241 world that is not hyperbole . That's a 08:00.241 --> 08:01.910 fact that is the time 08:07.820 --> 08:10.049 as the English poet , John Milton once 08:10.059 --> 08:13.600 wrote , they also serve to only 08:13.609 --> 08:17.500 stand and wait the years . Our son 08:17.510 --> 08:19.790 was in Iraq for a year before that in 08:19.959 --> 08:23.549 Kosovo . I get up in the morning . 08:23.720 --> 08:25.664 See , my wife who teaches school , 08:25.664 --> 08:27.959 she'd start earlier than I would and 08:27.970 --> 08:31.709 she'd be standing there at the sink 08:31.720 --> 08:34.099 drinking her coffee mouth in a prayer . 08:34.780 --> 08:37.650 Every one of your spouses knows what 08:37.659 --> 08:39.780 happens . What's possible can happen 08:39.789 --> 08:41.845 when your son , daughter , husband , 08:41.845 --> 08:44.479 wife are deployed and Jill and I never 08:44.489 --> 08:46.156 forget the military spouses , 08:46.156 --> 08:48.369 caregivers and survivors serve and 08:48.380 --> 08:51.250 sacrifice as well . We never forget 08:51.669 --> 08:53.836 that you've also answered the nation's 08:53.836 --> 08:56.340 call and together , Jill and I and my 08:56.349 --> 08:58.571 entire administration has never stopped 08:58.571 --> 09:00.682 working to do right by your service . 09:00.929 --> 09:03.710 You know , uh we're with , uh with you 09:03.719 --> 09:06.869 at the uh here at Fort Liberty all the 09:06.880 --> 09:10.630 way for liberty . And I tell you 09:10.640 --> 09:12.640 what as a nation , we have many 09:12.650 --> 09:14.849 obligations , but we only have one 09:14.859 --> 09:17.400 truly sacred obligation . And I used to 09:17.409 --> 09:19.619 criticize years ago as a young senator 09:19.630 --> 09:21.686 and I'd say this , but not anymore . 09:22.260 --> 09:24.840 The most sacred obligation America has 09:24.849 --> 09:27.299 is to prepare those we send in a harm's 09:27.309 --> 09:29.400 way and care for them and their 09:29.409 --> 09:31.409 families . When they come home , we 09:31.409 --> 09:34.409 deployed today , we're taking an 09:34.419 --> 09:36.586 important step towards fulfilling that 09:36.586 --> 09:39.429 obligation . This new executive order 09:39.580 --> 09:42.080 established the most comprehensive set 09:42.090 --> 09:43.923 of administrative actions in our 09:43.923 --> 09:45.739 nation's history to support the 09:45.750 --> 09:48.650 economic security of military families , 09:48.659 --> 09:50.659 veterans , spouses , caregivers and 09:50.659 --> 09:54.619 survivors actions have boiled down into 09:54.630 --> 09:57.770 three main goals , more flexibility , 09:58.179 --> 10:01.500 more support and more resources . I'll 10:01.510 --> 10:04.140 start with the flexibility piece . This 10:04.150 --> 10:06.510 executive order encourages all federal 10:06.520 --> 10:09.780 agencies to do more to retain military 10:09.789 --> 10:11.789 spouses through flexible policies , 10:12.140 --> 10:14.640 policies like granting leave when their 10:14.650 --> 10:17.979 partner has to pcs , improving remote 10:17.989 --> 10:20.690 work opportunities for military spouses , 10:20.700 --> 10:22.533 including when they're stationed 10:22.533 --> 10:24.940 overseas . And it's just common sense 10:25.169 --> 10:27.225 to keep families together . It keeps 10:27.225 --> 10:29.830 the talent workforce together and look , 10:29.840 --> 10:32.007 it enables our government to carry out 10:32.007 --> 10:34.330 its global mission . Second , the 10:34.340 --> 10:37.440 executive order means more support for 10:37.450 --> 10:40.409 military connected families , changing 10:40.419 --> 10:42.869 duty stations is already hard enough . 10:43.380 --> 10:45.213 You shouldn't have to navigate a 10:45.213 --> 10:47.940 complicated tax regulations or work 10:47.950 --> 10:50.840 requirements , but all by yourself just 10:50.849 --> 10:53.960 to do that , if you're certified in one 10:53.969 --> 10:55.858 state and your military should be 10:55.858 --> 10:57.969 certified in every other state . When 10:57.969 --> 11:00.302 you move to that state , the first time , 11:00.302 --> 11:02.136 this executive order will enable 11:02.136 --> 11:04.080 spouses to seek advice on overseas 11:04.080 --> 11:06.025 employment issues through military 11:06.025 --> 11:08.500 legal assistance officers . But also 11:08.510 --> 11:10.789 you also need support to navigate 11:10.799 --> 11:13.077 challenges unique to military families , 11:13.789 --> 11:16.890 challenges like juggling childcare and 11:16.900 --> 11:19.260 work while your partner is deployed or 11:19.270 --> 11:21.492 when you're caring for an injured loved 11:21.492 --> 11:23.929 one . Too often , too often the people 11:23.940 --> 11:26.130 you work with , they just don't know , 11:26.250 --> 11:28.583 not , they don't care , they don't know , 11:28.583 --> 11:30.472 they don't know what you're going 11:30.472 --> 11:30.140 through . They don't know how it works . 11:30.419 --> 11:32.641 They don't understand everything you go 11:32.641 --> 11:34.808 through . That can be tough and it can 11:34.808 --> 11:36.609 be isolating . That's why this 11:36.619 --> 11:39.099 executive order establishes new 11:39.109 --> 11:41.380 training for federal human resources 11:41.599 --> 11:44.450 and hiring personnel to ensure that all 11:44.460 --> 11:46.571 our military and veterans , spouses , 11:46.571 --> 11:48.799 caregivers and survivors feel seen and 11:48.809 --> 11:51.450 supported . And finally , this 11:51.460 --> 11:54.349 executive order means more resources , 11:54.359 --> 11:56.470 especially when it comes to improving 11:56.470 --> 11:58.692 military families , access to quality , 11:58.692 --> 12:01.080 defendable and affordable , affordable 12:01.090 --> 12:01.929 child care . 12:10.489 --> 12:12.211 Today , we're accelerating the 12:12.211 --> 12:14.267 implementation of the dependent care 12:14.267 --> 12:16.322 flexibility spending account , which 12:16.322 --> 12:18.211 should give military families the 12:18.211 --> 12:20.609 option to receive a pre tax benefit for 12:20.619 --> 12:22.940 day care , pre school , summer camps . 12:22.950 --> 12:25.700 And much more . This order also focused 12:25.710 --> 12:27.869 on providing resources resource for 12:27.880 --> 12:30.460 military spouses or entrepreneurs . 12:30.469 --> 12:32.580 Like some of the folks up here on the 12:32.580 --> 12:34.750 stage over here in the moment that 12:34.760 --> 12:37.539 includes exploring new funding options 12:37.549 --> 12:39.770 like grants and loans to help military 12:39.780 --> 12:41.900 spouses start and sustain their 12:41.909 --> 12:44.609 businesses and developing new resources . 12:44.619 --> 12:46.619 They're going to make it easier for 12:46.619 --> 12:48.397 entrepreneurs to relocate their 12:48.397 --> 12:51.979 businesses if they have to P CS folks , 12:52.020 --> 12:55.309 let me close with this next month . We 12:55.640 --> 12:58.520 will celebrate 50 years of the all 12:58.530 --> 13:02.400 volunteer force at the time . There was 13:02.409 --> 13:04.580 some debate about whether or not we 13:04.590 --> 13:07.119 could draw in the talent we needed 13:07.250 --> 13:09.306 about whether Americans would answer 13:09.306 --> 13:12.200 the call to serve . But 50 years on , 13:12.739 --> 13:15.969 we see so clearly all of you who raise 13:15.979 --> 13:18.146 your hand . All of you who volunteered 13:18.159 --> 13:20.326 are the reason that our military today 13:20.326 --> 13:22.437 is the greatest fighting force in the 13:22.437 --> 13:24.437 history of the world . Bar . None . 13:24.437 --> 13:26.320 That's the reason and the reason 13:29.130 --> 13:31.241 we've been able to sustain that force 13:31.241 --> 13:33.463 year after year . Decade after decade , 13:33.463 --> 13:35.574 because military spouses , caregivers 13:35.574 --> 13:37.797 and survivors have answered the call as 13:37.797 --> 13:40.289 well . You have your loved ones back 13:40.690 --> 13:42.968 just like they have the country's back . 13:43.020 --> 13:45.419 So the only way , the only way to keep 13:45.429 --> 13:47.651 this force strong for the next 50 years 13:47.651 --> 13:49.849 and 50 after that and 50 after that is 13:49.859 --> 13:53.090 if we keep our promises , if we uphold 13:53.099 --> 13:55.266 the sacred obligation , we bear to our 13:55.266 --> 13:57.377 military members , our veterans , our 13:57.377 --> 13:59.599 spouses , caregivers and survivors . So 13:59.599 --> 14:02.650 today I'm here as commander in chief to 14:02.659 --> 14:04.715 sign this executive order because it 14:04.715 --> 14:07.000 matters , it matters to our military 14:07.010 --> 14:09.239 recruitment and retention . It matters 14:09.250 --> 14:11.417 to our troops readiness and resilience 14:11.417 --> 14:13.528 and it matters to our nation's safety 14:13.528 --> 14:15.583 and security supporting our military 14:15.583 --> 14:17.806 and veterans family is not just a moral 14:17.806 --> 14:19.917 imperative , it's a national security 14:19.917 --> 14:22.028 imperative and I'm not joking . It is 14:22.609 --> 14:24.498 and that should unite all of us , 14:24.498 --> 14:27.109 public and private sectors and together 14:27.450 --> 14:29.672 we're going to keep doing everything we 14:29.672 --> 14:31.672 can to make sure if you receive the 14:31.672 --> 14:33.672 flexibility , support and resources 14:33.672 --> 14:35.839 that you deserve , things are going to 14:35.839 --> 14:37.950 get better . That's my promise to you 14:37.960 --> 14:39.904 and to all military and veterans , 14:39.904 --> 14:41.960 spouses , caregivers and survivors . 14:41.960 --> 14:43.969 May . God bless you all . May God 14:43.979 --> 14:46.201 protect our troops . Now , I'm going to 14:46.201 --> 14:48.312 go over and sign this executive order 14:48.312 --> 14:50.535 and thank you . Thank you . Thank you . 14:50.535 --> 14:52.146 Thank you for your service . 15:00.250 --> 15:00.739 Right ? 15:14.630 --> 15:15.979 Uh You got a kitten . 15:18.539 --> 15:20.830 Wow , that's so , come on up here . 15:22.330 --> 15:25.799 12 days . Bye . 15:30.450 --> 15:32.617 I think everybody's here . All right . 15:33.820 --> 15:35.598 Advancing economic security for 15:35.598 --> 15:37.487 military and veterans , spouses , 15:37.487 --> 15:39.487 military caregivers and survivors . 15:47.690 --> 15:48.979 It's now the law 16:05.770 --> 16:07.881 all looking like . What's he gonna do 16:07.881 --> 16:10.369 next , by the way I have ? 16:15.599 --> 16:15.630 Right .