Jill Biden reveals $500 million plan that focuses on women's health at Clinton Global Initiative

NEW YORK (AP) — First lady Jill Biden on Monday unveiled a new set of actions to address health inequities faced by women in the United States, plans that include spending at least $500 million annually on women's health research.

Jill Biden made the announcement at this year’s Clinton Global Initiative annual meeting in New York, moments before the organization honored President Joe Biden with the 2024 Clinton Global Citizen Award.

“He's provided a playbook for getting things done,” former President Bill Clinton, said as he presented the award. “We honor him today, not just for what he's accomplished, but for the way he has done it.”

President Biden, standing next to his wife, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Clinton Foundation Vice Chair Chelsea Clinton, joked, “This is what you call being trapped.”

In his short remarks, he then called Jill Biden's announcement one of the most substantial of his administration.

The additional government spending will mainly come from the Department of Defense, which provides medical care to more than 230,000 active duty military women and nearly 2 million military retirees, as well as their family members. The research will focus on why these women experience endocrine, hematological and other immunity-related disorders twice as often as men.

“Women are really hungry for this kind of information,” Jill Biden said. “We don't have the answers.”

Another change will take effect next week, with a new policy that includes women's health at every step of the research funded by Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs, which funded 751 grants last year to study Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, lupus, orthopedic and musculoskeletal injuries, and various cancers.

The commitment was among the largest of the more than 100 expected at the two-day meeting of political, business and philanthropic leaders gathering to address some of the world’s most pressing issues. The Clintons have set this year’s theme as “What’s Working,” a way to look for potential solutions and effective programs in tumultuous times.

“You don’t look at a problem and say, ‘That’s impossible,” Bill Clinton said in his opening remarks. “You don’t just throw up your hands. You roll up your sleeves.”

An example of that strategy came from the announcement that a wide-ranging group of 15 nonprofits, humanitarian aid organizations and other funders will join forces to address the humanitarian crisis in Sudan following more than a year of conflict.

The Coalition for Mutual Aid in Sudan – which includes The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Global Giving, Global Fund for Women, and The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee — will donate at least $2 million to mutual aid groups in the country by the end of the year. It also pledged to raise another $4.5 million for those groups within the next two years.

Patricia McIlreavy, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which has been representing the coalition, said that, while much more aid is needed, the collaboration and problem-solving of the group is an important step forward.

“It gets us started,” McIlreavy told The Associated Press. “And it models the behavior you want to see from others. If you wait until it’s the perfect opportunity, you’ve missed many of the opportunities that were good enough.”

World Food Program director Cindy McCain said earlier this month that “ Sudan’s nearly a forgotten crisis ” and that 25 million people there already face acute hunger. Last week, the top United Nations humanitarian official said fighting is escalating in the conflict that began in April 2023 when long-simmering tensions between Sudan’s military and paramilitary leaders broke out in the capital Khartoum and spread to other regions. The U.N. says more than 14,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured.

“With ongoing impediments to a large-scale international aid response, Sudanese community groups have become the primary frontline responders and are currently the most effective means of reaching millions on the brink of starvation,” Patricia McIlreavy, president of the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, said in a prepared statement on behalf of the coalition. “With so many lives on the line, the imperative to support local aid efforts in Sudan has never been more urgent.”

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy says more than 12 million people have been forced from their homes in Sudan, creating what is now the world’s largest displacement and hunger crisis. The danger from the conflict has prevented most international aid agencies from delivering supplies to those in need.

Greg Milne, the Clinton Global Initiative CEO who convened a panel in April to raise awareness and support for the Sudanese people, said the new coalition is an example of what bringing organizations from varied sectors can do.

“We know strong, diverse partnerships can help address often overlooked and even dire challenges, and develop unexpected and innovative solutions,” he said.

Philanthropic leaders, including Bill Gates, World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres, Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee, and Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah will share information about their work during CGI, as will Prince Harry, who will discuss the launch of The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, which supports parents of children harmed online. In his Tuesday appearance, the Duke of Sussex will also address his work with the World Health Organization and others to reduce violence against children, an issue he and his wife Meghan outlined on a recent trip to Colombia.

Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani Sadriu, and Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics are set to address the conference, as are CEOs from Pfizer, Mastercard, IKEA, Pinterest, Sanofi and Chobani.

Associated Press coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. For all of AP’s philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy.

President Joe Biden speaks as he presented with the Global Citizen Award by former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and Chelsea Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by Chelsea Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by Chelsea Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by Chelsea Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden talks with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former President Bill Clinton as he is presented with the Global Citizen Award at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by Chelsea Clinton, former President Bill Clinton, first lady Jill Biden and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Joe Biden is presented with the Global Citizen Award by former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Global Initiative Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Binaifer Nowrojee, President of Open Society Foundations, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Happy Mwende Kinyili, Co-Executive Director of Mama Cash, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Nicole Taylor, President and CEO, of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair of the Clinton Foundation & 42nd President of the United States, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Arian Simone, CEO and Founding Partner, of Fearless Fund speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Nicole Taylor, President and CEO, of Silicon Valley Community Foundation, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Binaifer Nowrojee, President of Open Society Foundations, speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Happy Mwende Kinyili, Co-Executive Director of Mama Cash speaks during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Bill Clinton, Founder and Board Chair of the Clinton Foundation & 42nd President of the United States, speaks to guess during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

Binaifer Nowrojee, President of Open Society Foundations, right, speaks with a journalist during the Clinton Global Initiative, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki)

FILE -Bill Clinton, third left, speaks as Cindy McCain, Executive Director, World Food Programme, second right, Jose Andres, Founder and Chief Feeding Officer, World Central Kitchen, right, President of the Republic of Malawi, Lazarus Chakwera, second left, and Louise Emmanuelle Mabulo, Founder, The Cacao Project, left, listen during the Clinton Global Initiative, Sept. 19, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

FILE -A World Food Programme (WFP) truck backs up to load food items from a recently landed UN helicopter, in Yida camp, South Sudan, Sept. 14, 2012. (AP Photo/Mackenzie Knowles-Coursin, File)

John Tortorella had a former hockey coach help him Monday at Philadelphia Flyers training camp — the father of the late John and Matthew Gaudreau, who was an invited guest.

The Flyers tapped their sticks in appreciation of Guy Gaudreau, a former hockey coach at Hollydell Ice Arena and Gloucester Catholic High School in New Jersey, when he hit the ice to assist with drills during practice. The Flyers shook Gaudreau’s hand at the end of the skate in appreciation and thanked him for helping out.

“He was hesitant at first, and we kind of let him go at his timetable,” Tortorella said. “I think it worked out really well today. I gave him my camp book. We're going to check in next week and see if we can get him out here a couple more times and have him be part of it. I don't want it to be, ‘Just come out here.’ I want him to be part of it. I think it will be therapeutic for him to be around us and run some drills.”

Tortorella said he had never met Gaudreau, a former hockey player and coach who raised his family nearby, until Monday's practice in New Jersey. Tortorella said Gaudreau had an open invitation to return and help the Flyers at any point.

“I never met Johnny and Matt in my travels as coach,” Tortorella told reporters at the Flyers' complex in Voorhees. "But their family's here. Horrific situation going on. He's a coach. He's done some great work with some of the youth out here. I figured it's perfect just to get him in with us.”

Tortorella joked that Gaudreau was giving him a hard time for yelling at players to skate harder during practice.

“A lot of people know him in the organization because of his reputation,” Tortorella said.

Tortorella attended the brothers' funeral last month in a Philadelphia suburb.

“I thought the two wives were so strong in how they handled themselves,” Tortorella said. “No one can imagine. No one can. I’m hoping to get to know the family. I think a number of coaches want to get to know the family, the girls, Matt’s family. It’s just horrible what happened. It’s still pretty fresh. It’s here. It’s with us. Down the street. We just want to be part of it and try and help.”

John Gaudreau's widow, Meredith, wrote on social media how much Tortorella's gesture meant to the family.

“John & Matty would love this. They’re both so proud of their dad, I know this made them smile as they watched down from heaven," she wrote, adding a heart emoji.

John Gaudreau, the Columbus Blue Jackets star, and his brother, Matthew, were killed on Aug. 29 when police said they were struck by a suspected drunken driver while they were riding bicycles on a rural road in South Jersey on the eve of their sister Katie's wedding. The driver who police say struck them is charged with two counts of death by auto, along with reckless driving, possession of an open container and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle.

John Gaudreau, known as “Johnny Hockey,” played 10 full seasons in the league and was set to enter his third with the Blue Jackets after signing a seven-year, $68 million deal in 2022. He played his first eight seasons with the Calgary Flames, a tenure that included becoming one of the sport’s top players and a fan favorite across North America.

“We don't want it to be an everyday story,” Tortorella said. “We just want to help. To be in a locker room, coach to coach, player to coach, guys talking to him, I just hope it helps a little bit.”

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Guy Gaudreau, the father, family and other mourners arrive for a funeral for Columbus Blue Jackets hockey player John Gaudreau Gaudreau and his brother Matthew Gaudreau at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church in Media, Pa., Monday, Sept. 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

The Philadelphia Flyers host Guy Gaudreau, second from right, the father of Johnny and Matthew Gaudreau, at the team's morning skate, Monday, Sept. 23, 2024, in Voorhees, N.J. (The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP)