President Biden
Joe BidenHouse Democrats approve .9T COVID-19 relief bill with rising minimum wage. Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 defendants in connection with Capitol revolt MORE He spent Friday in Texas receiving information about the recent winter storm and polling a local food bank, pledging to help the state recover from the effects of the weather and power outages.
“Our prayers are with you after the winter storm,” Biden said in statements at Houston’s NRG Stadium. “We will be true partners who will help you recover and rebuild from these storms, this pandemic and this economic crisis. We are in the long run.”
Biden spent most of the day with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and received information about ongoing recovery efforts at the Harris County Emergency Operations Center. Biden was briefed on ongoing efforts to repair water systems in Harris County, where 57,000 residents remain under boiling water warnings.
He and the first lady Jill Biden
Jill BidenBiden pledges to support Texas in the midst of winter storm recovery The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by The AIDS Institute – Senate endorses minimum wage, House votes today on Biden bill turns storm focus winter with a trip to Texas MORE later, he toured the Houston Food Bank, where they met with local volunteers.
Biden also met with the senator. John Cornyn
John CornynBiden pledges to support Texas in the midst of winter storm recovery. Partisan winds threaten the Capitol riot commission. Biden turns the focus into a winter storm with the trip to Texas MORE (R-Texas), Democratic Representatives. Sylvia Garcia
Sylvia GarciaBiden pledges to support Texas in the midst of recovering from the winter storm. Biden turns the focus into a winter storm with the trip to Texas., Sheila Jackson Lee
Sheila Jackson LeeBiden pledges to support Texas amid winter storm recovery Biden turns focus on winter storm with trip to Texas Obama says repairs are “justified” MORE, Al Green
Alexander (Al) N. GreenBiden pledges to support Texas amid winter storm recovery Biden turns focus on winter storm with trip to Texas LIVE COVERAGE: Senate opens second trial of Trump’s dismissal MORE and Lizzie Pannill Fletcher and the mayor of Houston Sylvester TurnerSylvester TurnerBiden turns focus on winter storm with Houston Mayor in Texas: Biden’s visit “wouldn’t be a distraction” Sunday shows preview: Reopening CDC school orientation sparks debate ; Texas battles freeze MORE in the winter (D) on the visit.
Biden used his statements to advance his message of unity, describing those affected by both the cold season and the coronavirus pandemic not as Republicans or Democrats, but as “fellow Americans.”
“When a crisis hits one of our states like the one that hit Texas, it’s not Republicans or Democrats that hurt; it’s our fellow Americans who hurt, and our job is to help everyone who does it. you need, to look at each other, don’t leave anyone behind, ”Biden said.
Biden spoke at NRG Stadium, a mass vaccination site in the state of Texas. He quickly focused on his administration’s efforts to partner with states to vaccinate the U.S. population, and mentioned that the country surpassed 50 million coronavirus vaccines earlier this week.
Biden also welcomed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisory group’s approval of the single-dose vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. Still, he warned that it would be an arduous process to vaccinate the entire American population and encouraged individuals to continue to follow public health guidelines.
“Put on your masks. It’s not a political statement, it’s a patriotic thing you can do,” Biden said.
The president also called for bipartisan action to address the pandemic, and noted on Friday his commitment to Cornyn and Abbott. His statements came as House Democrats prepared to approve Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion aid package, which is not expected to garner Republican support.
“We disagree on a lot of things and there’s nothing wrong with that, but there are a lot of things we can work on together and one of them is represented right here today: the effort to speed up vaccinations,” he said. Biden.
The trip was the third official visit outside Biden State since he was president. Last week he traveled to Wisconsin to participate in a CNN town hall and toured a Pfizer coronavirus vaccine plant in Michigan.
Biden signed emergency declarations for Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma after the storm and also approved major disaster declarations for Texas and Oklahoma to free up more federal resources for states and their residents. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has sent supplies such as water, blankets, generators, diesel and food.