The White House is moving forward with a series of meetings with lawmakers and other stakeholders as President Biden urges approval of his $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief proposal.
Press secretary Jen Psaki
Jen PsakiOnight Health Care: Biden Takes Steps to Increase Vaccine Dose Sent to States | CDC researchers find “little evidence” of major school outbreaks, with precautions Eli Lilly says the combined antibody significantly reduces the risk of COVID-19 death. Biden is taking steps to increase the number of vaccine doses sent to states. Biden has called first with Putin as president MORE He told reporters Wednesday that Biden and Vice President Harris are “directly engaged” with members of Congress to get help from COVID-19 and described the talks as productive, though he did not provide specific details about any of their meetings.
Psaki said the director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese
Brian Deese: Portman’s departure underscores Republican identity crisis Collins: Rise of minimum wage should be separated from COVID-19 relief package The Hill’s Morning Report – Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel MONTH i Jeff Zients
Jeff Zients: Biden Officials Invite Bipartisan Group of Senators on Coronavirus Relief Plan Non-Joint Vaccine Distribution raises early test of Biden Biden under pressure to deliver more shots of COVID-19 MORE, which oversees the White House coronavirus response, is scheduled to meet with members of the New Democratic Coalition of Moderate Congress Democrats.
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 produce any tangible progress in reaching an agreement.
Psaki said the White House Public Participation Office, led by Cedric Richmond
Cedric Richmond An attack on the United States that has divided Congress and a Pelosi nation to seat the Iowa Republican as a challenging Democrat contests election results Luke Letlow, Louisiana Representative, dies of COVID-19 MORE, would meet Thursday with 100 historically black college and university presidents. The office met with civil rights groups on Tuesday and reports this Wednesday on labor leaders, youth advocates and organizations focused on creating wealth in the black community.
White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain
Ron Klain: Biden’s top aide says schools should get money before reopening Skepticism reigns as Biden and McConnell begin the new era on Sunday: show all eyes on the Biden administration to fight coronavirus MONTH and senior adviser Anita Dunn have also collaborated with members of Congress, Psaki said.
Meanwhile, Biden will meet with the newly confirmed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
Janet Louise YellenBlinken handles first calls as Biden Secretary of State Yellen thanks the rapper for Hamilton-style song about her: “Your tune is money” On The Money: GOP explores defense of cuts Trump Tax Office | Democrats reprimand for raising minimum wage | The keys to the financial sector for Biden’s consumer office choose MORE and other economic officials on Friday to receive a briefing “on the impacts of the delay in moving forward with the additional economic relief,” Psaki said.
“Our team continues to support the U.S. rescue plan as more and more voices across the country recognize the urgent need to get the help American families need,” he told reporters in a information session on Wednesday afternoon.
The $ 1.9 trillion relief proposal is designed to help workers, businesses and U.S. state and local governments affected by the virus, which has caused millions of job losses. Much of the proposal is also devoted to supporting national testing, a vaccine distribution plan, and efforts to safely reopen the school.
Biden has met with resistance from Republicans as he pushes for approval of the proposal in a Congress that is closely controlled by Democrats. The president has 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 narrow majority.
The legislative push represents the first test of the ability of Biden, a former senator, and his team to negotiate with Capitol Hill. The White House has not set a specific timeline on when they would like an agreement approved.
Biden acknowledged Monday that it could take “a couple of weeks” to reach an agreement and said Democratic leaders will eventually decide to use reconciliation based on how negotiations go.