Global Business Briefing with The Honorable Stephen K. Benjamin, Assistant to The President, Senior Advisor to The President, And Director of The White House Office of Public Engagement

The Biden-Harris administration has prioritized developing infrastructure and increasing U.S. competitiveness through its Investing in America initiative. The Office of Public Engagement has become key to implementing many of the initiative’s flagship legislation at a sub-national level, enabling a bilateral relationship between the White House and the American constituency. To discuss their role in these ongoing projects and more, the Meridian Corporate Council hosted The Honorable Stephen K. Benjamin, Assistant to the President, Senior Advisor to the President, and Director of the White House Office of Public Engagement, for a Global Business Briefing on October 13, 2024. Joining Meridian for the discussion were Ms. Charlotte Smith of Salesforce, who served as the corporate host, and Meridian Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Stuart Holliday who moderated the discussion.  

Here are some takeaways from the program:

1.Connecting the White House with the American Public 

The White House has, historically, been envisioned as a welcoming and accessible space for all members of the American public. However, as national and global issues grow more complicated and new priorities arise, the Office of Public Engagement’s purpose is to ensure this foundational goal is met. To achieve this, the Office of Public Engagement facilitates coordination between governments at the local, state, and national level and the White House. Throughout the years the Office of Public Engagement has proven to be a valuable intermediary between the American public, the private sector, and the Office of President, ensuring the administration always has access to the diverse concerns and opinions held across the nation. 

2.Change Starts at the Sub-National Level  

Much of the Office of Public Engagement’s work starts at the sub-national level, and the results reverberate nationally. In 2022, the Office of Public Engagement was key in engaging the local health sector with the White House to ensure strong partnerships amidst the implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Investing in America, the Biden-Harris program under which the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is nested, includes a significant portion of funds being distributed to communities in need, offering reduced utilities bills and better access to high-speed internet for every household. Throughout the implementation of the program, the Office of Public Engagement has remained connected with local governments and community leaders to gather opinions and communicate the efficacy of the program and the new needs that arise from the changes. 

3. Amidst Natural Disasters, White House Priorities Emerge 

After Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton, the White House’s priorities shifted. Ensuring that FEMA aid was given to those in need and the affected regions were able to rebuild became the number one priority. However, the passing of the hurricanes also revealed the urgency with which the U.S. must renew large parts of its infrastructure, once again making the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, and its estimated 1.5 million jobs a year and $1.2 trillion in allocated funds, highly relevant legislation. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is only one of the many pieces of legislation being developed that target U.S. infrastructure. 

4. Critical Legislation Continues to Develop 

The Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America initiative contains essential pieces of legislation to improve infrastructure and quality of life in the U.S. The American Rescue Plan, Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act (CHIPS), and Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) all fall under the Investing in America umbrella. In total, about $582.8 billion have been committed to infrastructure and manufacturing under the program, representing one of the largest investments in the U.S.’s future. Additionally, private companies have committed to $910 billion in investments towards 21st Century industries, ensuring that millions of jobs are created and presenting an important opportunity for the U.S. to advance its competitiveness in certain industries. 

5. U.S. Competitiveness at the Forefront 

Ultimately, the purpose of the Biden-Harris administration’s Investing in America initiative is to improve U.S. competitiveness in the long-term. The CHIPS act, which allocates upwards of $75 billion for the semiconductor industry, is set to create an estimated 40,000 jobs and make the U.S. a leader in not only the design, but the manufacturing of semiconductors globally. Similarly, the IRA is set to allocate $40 billion in loans for clean energy projects and create 38 million jobs over the course of the decade. The clean energy industry and the semiconductor industry are some of the fastest growing markets globally and Investing in America is the first step in ensuring the U.S. is at the forefront of both industries. 

Learn more about the Meridian Center for Corporate Diplomacy

The Meridian Center for Corporate Diplomacy harnesses the power of the private sector to drive international cooperation and strengthen diplomacy. Through signature programs like Global Business Briefings and the Corporate Diplomacy Global Leaders Program, we equip business leaders with the knowledge, strategies, and connections needed to:

• Accelerate collaboration on shared global challenges

• Navigate increasingly complex geopolitical risks and opportunities

• Strengthen America’s global competitiveness

For a full list of programs, visit www.Meridian.org/corporate