The White House is moving forward with a series of meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders, while President Biden calls for approval of his $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal.
Press Secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOvernight Health Care: Biden takes steps to increase the number of vaccine doses sent to states | CDC researchers find ‘little evidence’ of major outbreaks in schools, with precautions | Eli Lilly says that the combination of antibodies significantly reduces the risk of death from COVID-19. Biden takes steps to increase the number of vaccine doses sent to states that Biden made the first call with Putin as president MORE told reporters on Wednesday that Biden and Vice President Harris are “directly engaged” with members of Congress about the relief from COVID-19 and described the talks as productive, although she did not provide specific details about any of her meetings .
Psaki said that the Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese
Brian DeesePortman’s departure underscores the Republican identity crisis Collins: The minimum wage increase must be separated from the COVID-19 aid package The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel MORE and Jeff Zients
Jeff ZientsBiden officials call a bipartisan group of senators about a coronavirus relief plan Disarticulated vaccine distribution presents initial test for Biden Biden under pressure to administer more COVID-19 injections MORE, who is overseeing the White House coronavirus response, is expected to meet with members of the New Democratic Coalition of moderate Democrats in Congress.
Zients led a meeting of bipartisan governors on Tuesday and Deese has held meetings with lawmakers, including a bipartisan call on Sunday. The weekend call did not appear to yield any tangible progress towards reaching an agreement.
Psaki said that the White House Public Engagement Office, led by Cedric Richmond
Cedric RichmondA attack on America that divided Congress – and a Pelosi nation to elect Republican Iowa as a Democratic candidate contests election results Louisiana elected Representative Luke Letlow dies of COVID-19 MORE, will meet 100 presidents of historically black colleges and universities on Thursday. The office met with civil rights groups on Tuesday and is informing labor leaders, youth advocates and organizations focused on building wealth in the black community on Wednesday.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain
Ron KlainTop Biden, Biden’s aide, says schools should receive money before reopening. Skepticism reigns as Biden and McConnell begin a new era on Sunday shows prediction: All eyes on the Biden government to fight the coronavirus MORE and senior advisor Anita Dunn also became involved with members of Congress, said Psaki.
Meanwhile, Biden will meet the newly confirmed Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen
Janet Louise YellenBlinken makes the first calls to Biden’s Secretary of State, Yellen, thanks the rapper behind his Hamilton-style song: ‘Your tune is money’ On The Money: GOP investigates in defense of Trump’s tax cuts | Optimistic Democrats on Minimum Wage Increase | Financial sector must choose MORE and other economic officials on Friday to receive a briefing “on the impacts of the delay in moving forward with additional economic relief,” said Psaki.
“Our team continues to build support for the American Rescue Plan as more and more voices across the country recognize the urgent need to get the help that American families need,” she told reporters at an afternoon press conference at Wednesday.
The $ 1.9 trillion aid proposal was created to help workers, businesses and American state and local governments affected by the virus, which has caused millions of job losses. A large part of the proposal is also dedicated to supporting testing across the country, a vaccine distribution plan and efforts to reopen safe schools.
Biden has met resistance from Republicans while pushing for the proposal to pass in a Congress that is tightly controlled by Democrats. The president said he would like to get bipartisan support for the package, but the White House has not ruled out using reconciliation to pass a bill with a small majority.
The legislative push represents the first test of the ability of Biden, a former senator, and his team to negotiate with the Capitol. The White House has not set a specific deadline on when it would like an agreement to be approved.
Biden acknowledged on Monday that it may take “a few weeks” to reach an agreement and said that Democratic leaders will decide whether to use reconciliation, depending on how the negotiations go.