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Biden says 'we've waited too long to deal with climate crisis' in sharp turn from Trump – live Biden says 'we've waited too long to deal with climate crisis' in sharp turn from Trump – live
(32 minutes later)
Biden holds briefing on what he is calling the White House’s ‘Climate Day’, pledging a million new jobs in the US automobile industryBiden holds briefing on what he is calling the White House’s ‘Climate Day’, pledging a million new jobs in the US automobile industry
Milwaukee was already failing students of color. Covid made it worse.
In a city where 55% of children live in poverty, teachers are struggling to fill in for services students have lost while schools are closed, Mario Koran reports:
School closures have been disruptive for students across the United States but, for many students of color in Milwaukee’s public school system, the immediate impacts have been downright alarming.
In the long run, educators fear, Covid and a long history of segregation and discrimination have formed a toxic cocktail that could reverberate for decades to come.
“It’s not only a question of how we get these kids back to where they would have been had the pandemic not occurred, but how do we get them back to where they should be?” said Dan Rossmiller of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards.
“And that, of course, was the pre-existing problem.”
Virtual instruction has been the norm in Milwaukee public schools since March, when schoolhouse doors were first forced to close because of Covid. And in few places are the concerns about its impacts more acute than on Milwaukee’s north side, a majority-Black area in one of the most segregated cities in the nation. In the neighborhoods surrounding Martin Luther King Jr elementary, a school on the city’s near-north side, 55% of children live in poverty – nearly four times the state average for children in poverty.
Angela Harris, a 41-year-old teacher at the school, recalled the distress among students when she told them in the spring they wouldn’t be returning to the classroom.
She remembers rushing to the stockpile of snacks she kept in the classroom for hungry students and how she had loaded them into children’s backpacks so they’d have something to eat if food at home was scarce. She recalls one student in particular, wearing a green and black jacket donated by a local NBA star, and the way his face tightened in devastation at the news he might not see his teacher again.
“I can just visualize his face, in that coat, in that moment, asking me, ‘Mrs Harris, but what do I do if mommy is mean to me again?’ And me not knowing how to help him,” Harris said.
In the following weeks, as the school district scrambled to distribute Chromebooks and cobble together a plan for the remainder of the school year, Harris spent afternoons hand-delivering packets of homework print-outs to the doorsteps of the 20 students in her class.
“I knew they needed the reassurance of seeing me, and I needed the reassurance, too. For some of them, the only time I could make sure they were OK was when they were with me,” she said.
With more than 92% of the schools’ students qualifying for subsidized lunch, Harris also put out a call for donations of food and toiletries and organized a roster of people willing to help deliver meals to families, securing 500 volunteers on the first day. By Harris’s count, the mutual aid group has delivered more than 1,000 hot meals to families in 10 different zip codes across the city.
Teaching, Harris said, last year looked more like social work, hunting for missing students and social workers to fill in the wraparound services schools provided. “Educators have always been rushing in to fill in these services. But this is a pretty tattered safety net,” said Amy Mizialko, president of Milwaukee’s teachers union.
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Exactly one week into the Biden-Harris administration, the new administration had another day of rapid-fire briefings, executive order signings and cabinet confirmation hearings in a bid to underscore what it says is the urgency of the moment.
On Covid-19...
The Biden administration held the first of what it said would be regular, formal Covid-19 briefings led by experts on the subject – including Dr Anthony Fauci – not the president. The new style is a sharp contrast with the free-wheeling and factually challenged briefings of the Trump era.
CDC director Dr Rochelle Walinsky struck a hopeful tone early in the briefing, but was clear that many thousands more people would die in America because of the ongoing pandemic, likely totalling 500,000 deaths by February.
In that briefing, administration officials said they were working to increase vaccine manufacturing and distribution, and give states clarity on forthcoming allotments.
They also highlighted concerning Covid-19 variants, specifically B117 which is believed to be more transmissible, as another reason the administration wants Congress to pass a Covid-19 relief bill. The stimulus would provide more funding to surveil for variants using genomic sequencing.
In another healthcare measure, the president said his administration would also reopen Obamacare health insurance exchanges to people who lost employer-sponsored health insurance during the pandemic. A plurality of Americans get health insurance through an employer.
On the climate crisis...
Joe Biden signed a flurry of executive orders meant to address the climate crisis, by focusing on creating good-paying jobs in renewable energy. “We must do this, we can do this, we will do this,” Biden said.
Among the orders, Biden said he would pause and review all oil and gas drilling on federal lands, instruct federal agencies to switch the government’s massive fleet of cars over to electric vehicles, and instruct federal agencies to end subsidies for fossil fuel companies (he needs Congress to complete that last item).
In spite of the focus on jobs in the president’s plan, Republican legislators called the plan “pie-in-the-sky” government mandates which would hurt jobs.
Just a contextual note here: oil and gas companies have overwhelmingly donated to Republicans in recent years. Here’s a chart.
On cabinet secretaries...
Three nominees for cabinet secretary posts faced Senate committee hearings today, including energy secretary nominee Jennifer Granholm, nominee for representative to the United Nations Linda Greenfield-Thomas, and veteran’s affair secretary nominee Denis McDonough.
Now, I’ll pass the blog over to my esteemed colleague Maanvi Singh.
A Virginia state senator has just been censured for her praise of the Capitol rioters on 6 January.A Virginia state senator has just been censured for her praise of the Capitol rioters on 6 January.
As a reminder of the violence of the Capitol riot, five people were killed, and many police officers injured. Here are examples of those injuries.As a reminder of the violence of the Capitol riot, five people were killed, and many police officers injured. Here are examples of those injuries.
The election of Joe Biden could be a step towards a “safer and saner world” but the planet remains dangerously close to nuclear and climate change catastrophe, at “100 seconds to midnight” according to a panel of top scientists.The election of Joe Biden could be a step towards a “safer and saner world” but the planet remains dangerously close to nuclear and climate change catastrophe, at “100 seconds to midnight” according to a panel of top scientists.
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that the hands of its “Doomsday Clock”, a measure of the “world’s vulnerability to catastrophe”, had not moved since last year.The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists announced that the hands of its “Doomsday Clock”, a measure of the “world’s vulnerability to catastrophe”, had not moved since last year.
“The pandemic revealed just how unprepared and unwilling countries and the international system are to handle global emergencies properly,” the Bulletin, co-founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, said in a statement.“The pandemic revealed just how unprepared and unwilling countries and the international system are to handle global emergencies properly,” the Bulletin, co-founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, said in a statement.
It added that the worsening spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories was acting as a multiplier to the worsening threats of nuclear conflict and the climate emergency. The statement did not mention Donald Trump by name, but pointed to the 6 January storming of the US Capitol, which was incited by the former president, saying it renewed “legitimate concerns about national leaders who have sole control of the use of nuclear weapons”.It added that the worsening spread of disinformation and conspiracy theories was acting as a multiplier to the worsening threats of nuclear conflict and the climate emergency. The statement did not mention Donald Trump by name, but pointed to the 6 January storming of the US Capitol, which was incited by the former president, saying it renewed “legitimate concerns about national leaders who have sole control of the use of nuclear weapons”.
“In 2020, online lying literally killed,” it added.“In 2020, online lying literally killed,” it added.
The statement welcomed Biden’s first steps as president, rejoining the Paris climate accord and extending the New Start arms control agreement with Russia for five years.The statement welcomed Biden’s first steps as president, rejoining the Paris climate accord and extending the New Start arms control agreement with Russia for five years.
“The election of a US president who acknowledges climate change as a profound threat and supports international cooperation and science-based policy puts the world on a better footing to address global problems,” the Bulletin said.“The election of a US president who acknowledges climate change as a profound threat and supports international cooperation and science-based policy puts the world on a better footing to address global problems,” the Bulletin said.
“In the context of a post-pandemic return to relative stability, more such demonstrations of renewed interest in and respect for science and multilateral cooperation could create the basis for a safer and saner world.”“In the context of a post-pandemic return to relative stability, more such demonstrations of renewed interest in and respect for science and multilateral cooperation could create the basis for a safer and saner world.”
In further Marjorie Taylor Greene news, footage has resurfaced today of the Republican representative from Georgia harassing David Hogg, a Parkland school shooting survivor who campaigns for gun control reform, on a Washington street.In further Marjorie Taylor Greene news, footage has resurfaced today of the Republican representative from Georgia harassing David Hogg, a Parkland school shooting survivor who campaigns for gun control reform, on a Washington street.
The video was posted to Greene’s YouTube channel on 21 January 2020.The video was posted to Greene’s YouTube channel on 21 January 2020.
Taylor Greene, who as yet has faced no action from Republican House leadership for words and actions including appearing to advocate the execution of Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – see post from 3.02pm and story below – has claimed the Parkland shooting was staged.Taylor Greene, who as yet has faced no action from Republican House leadership for words and actions including appearing to advocate the execution of Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton – see post from 3.02pm and story below – has claimed the Parkland shooting was staged.
Seventeen people died and 17 were wounded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on 14 February 2018. Hogg rose to prominence as survivors mounted a national movement for meaningful gun reform.Seventeen people died and 17 were wounded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on 14 February 2018. Hogg rose to prominence as survivors mounted a national movement for meaningful gun reform.
On Twitter on Wednesday, Hogg wrote: “It’s so frustrating that we have people like Greene in Congress that would rather spread conspiracies about mass shootings than confront the reality people are dying every day from gun violence.”On Twitter on Wednesday, Hogg wrote: “It’s so frustrating that we have people like Greene in Congress that would rather spread conspiracies about mass shootings than confront the reality people are dying every day from gun violence.”
In addition to the back-to-back events this morning, multiple nominees for Biden’s cabinet are also facing scrutiny from Senate committees.In addition to the back-to-back events this morning, multiple nominees for Biden’s cabinet are also facing scrutiny from Senate committees.
While Joe Biden signed executive orders meant to tackle the climate crisis, his nominee for energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, was grilled by Congressional Republicans, according to the AP.While Joe Biden signed executive orders meant to tackle the climate crisis, his nominee for energy secretary, Jennifer Granholm, was grilled by Congressional Republicans, according to the AP.
Granholm, as the governor of Michigan during the 2008 recession, said she knew what it was like to “look in the eyes of men and women who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.”Granholm, as the governor of Michigan during the 2008 recession, said she knew what it was like to “look in the eyes of men and women who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.”
She promoted emerging clean energy technologies, such as battery manufacturing, as an answer for jobs that will be lost as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels.She promoted emerging clean energy technologies, such as battery manufacturing, as an answer for jobs that will be lost as the U.S. transitions away from fossil fuels.
Meanwhile, Linda Thomas-Greenfield is nominated to be the US Representative to the United Nations. Thomas-Greenfield was the nation’s senior-most black diplomat when she was abruptly fired by Donald Trump.Meanwhile, Linda Thomas-Greenfield is nominated to be the US Representative to the United Nations. Thomas-Greenfield was the nation’s senior-most black diplomat when she was abruptly fired by Donald Trump.
In her hearing before the The Senate committee on foreign relations, she called China “a strategic adversary” that threatens the world. She also expressed that she praised China’s initiatives in Africa in a 2019 speech, but made no mention of its human rights abuses.In her hearing before the The Senate committee on foreign relations, she called China “a strategic adversary” that threatens the world. She also expressed that she praised China’s initiatives in Africa in a 2019 speech, but made no mention of its human rights abuses.
Thomas-Greenfield was also questioned about a host of other issues, including the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, which former President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018. After the US then ramped up sanctions, Iran gradually and publicly abandoned the deal’s limits on its nuclear development.Thomas-Greenfield was also questioned about a host of other issues, including the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, which former President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018. After the US then ramped up sanctions, Iran gradually and publicly abandoned the deal’s limits on its nuclear development.
Meanwhile, the Senate committee on veteran’s affairs held a hearing to consider Denis McDonough to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs this afternoon.Meanwhile, the Senate committee on veteran’s affairs held a hearing to consider Denis McDonough to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs this afternoon.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a rare warning to Americans today, that the nation could see increased threats from domestic terrorism in the coming weeks.The Department of Homeland Security issued a rare warning to Americans today, that the nation could see increased threats from domestic terrorism in the coming weeks.
Although the agency did not site a specific, credible threat, it said”ideologically motivated violent extremists” may commit violent acts in the coming weeks.Although the agency did not site a specific, credible threat, it said”ideologically motivated violent extremists” may commit violent acts in the coming weeks.
Here’s more from Reuters:Here’s more from Reuters:
The US could face a heightened threat of domestic extremist violence for weeks from people angry at Donald Trump’s election defeat and inspired by the deadly storming of the US Capitol, the Department of Homeland Security warned on Wednesday.The US could face a heightened threat of domestic extremist violence for weeks from people angry at Donald Trump’s election defeat and inspired by the deadly storming of the US Capitol, the Department of Homeland Security warned on Wednesday.
The advisory, which said there was no specific and credible threat at this time, comes as Washington remains on high alert after hundreds of Trump supporters charged into the Capitol on 6 January, as Congress was formally certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory. Five died in the violence.The advisory, which said there was no specific and credible threat at this time, comes as Washington remains on high alert after hundreds of Trump supporters charged into the Capitol on 6 January, as Congress was formally certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory. Five died in the violence.
Biden’s inauguration last week occurred under heavy security, with more than 20,000 National Guard troops on duty. Officials have said about 5,000 troops will remain in Washington for the next few weeks, when Trump will face his second impeachment trial in the Senate on a charge of inciting insurrection.Biden’s inauguration last week occurred under heavy security, with more than 20,000 National Guard troops on duty. Officials have said about 5,000 troops will remain in Washington for the next few weeks, when Trump will face his second impeachment trial in the Senate on a charge of inciting insurrection.
Trump spent two months peddling the false narrative that his defeat in November’s presidential election was the result of widespread voter fraud. He urged a crowd of thousands of his followers to “fight” in a fiery speech before the 6 January violence.Trump spent two months peddling the false narrative that his defeat in November’s presidential election was the result of widespread voter fraud. He urged a crowd of thousands of his followers to “fight” in a fiery speech before the 6 January violence.
The DHS advisory said domestic violent extremists were motivated by issues including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force.The DHS advisory said domestic violent extremists were motivated by issues including anger over COVID-19 restrictions, the 2020 election results, and police use of force.
It also cited “long-standing racial and ethnic tension – including opposition to immigration” as drivers of domestic violence attacks. White supremacist groups have posed “the most persistent and lethal threat” of violent extremism in the United States in recent years, Trump’s acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told a congressional hearing in September.It also cited “long-standing racial and ethnic tension – including opposition to immigration” as drivers of domestic violence attacks. White supremacist groups have posed “the most persistent and lethal threat” of violent extremism in the United States in recent years, Trump’s acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told a congressional hearing in September.
DHS warned that the attack on the Capitol could inspire domestic extremists to attack other elected officials or government buildings. DHS typically issues only one or two advisory bulletins in a year. The bulletins have mostly warned of threats from foreign terrorist groups.DHS warned that the attack on the Capitol could inspire domestic extremists to attack other elected officials or government buildings. DHS typically issues only one or two advisory bulletins in a year. The bulletins have mostly warned of threats from foreign terrorist groups.
The last one, issued by the Trump administration in January 2020, declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism and designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization.The last one, issued by the Trump administration in January 2020, declared Iran a state sponsor of terrorism and designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization.
Biden last week directed his administration to conduct a full assessment of the risk of domestic terrorism. The assessment will be carried out by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in coordination with the FBI and DHS, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.Biden last week directed his administration to conduct a full assessment of the risk of domestic terrorism. The assessment will be carried out by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in coordination with the FBI and DHS, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters.
“The January 6th assault on the Capitol and the tragic deaths and destruction that occurred underscored what we have long known: the rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat. The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve,” Psaki said.“The January 6th assault on the Capitol and the tragic deaths and destruction that occurred underscored what we have long known: the rise of domestic violent extremism is a serious and growing national security threat. The Biden administration will confront this threat with the necessary resources and resolve,” Psaki said.
Biden press secretary Jen Psaki was asked earlier if the White House had any response to comments on social media by Marjorie Taylor Greene, in which, before taking office, the Republican from Georgia indicated support for executing House speaker Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.Biden press secretary Jen Psaki was asked earlier if the White House had any response to comments on social media by Marjorie Taylor Greene, in which, before taking office, the Republican from Georgia indicated support for executing House speaker Nancy Pelosi, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton.
Psaki was also asked if the White House thought disciplinary action should be taken. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have shown little interest in doing so.Psaki was also asked if the White House thought disciplinary action should be taken. Republican leaders in the House of Representatives have shown little interest in doing so.
“We don’t [have comment],” Psaki said. “And I’m not gonna speak further about her, I think, in this briefing room.”“We don’t [have comment],” Psaki said. “And I’m not gonna speak further about her, I think, in this briefing room.”
Earlier, Greene, who has expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, called Rev Raphael Warnock, a new Democratic senator from Georgia, a “heretic”. She also had a short Twitter exchange with Clinton.Earlier, Greene, who has expressed support for the QAnon conspiracy theory, called Rev Raphael Warnock, a new Democratic senator from Georgia, a “heretic”. She also had a short Twitter exchange with Clinton.
Clinton said: “This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress.”Clinton said: “This woman should be on a watch list. Not in Congress.”
Greene replied: “Actually, you should be in jail.”Greene replied: “Actually, you should be in jail.”
Here’s the full story:Here’s the full story:
Even as Joe Biden’s administration focused its climate crisis plan on jobs and the private sector, Republicans have criticized the plan as a “job killer”.Even as Joe Biden’s administration focused its climate crisis plan on jobs and the private sector, Republicans have criticized the plan as a “job killer”.
Here’s more from the Associated Press, on Biden’s plans to use his executive orders to spur growth, and Republican’s stalwart opposition:Here’s more from the Associated Press, on Biden’s plans to use his executive orders to spur growth, and Republican’s stalwart opposition:
[Biden’s] orders are aimed at “revitalizing the US energy sector, conserving our natural resources and leveraging them to help drive our nation toward a clean energy future,’’ the White House said in a statement before Biden signed the orders.[Biden’s] orders are aimed at “revitalizing the US energy sector, conserving our natural resources and leveraging them to help drive our nation toward a clean energy future,’’ the White House said in a statement before Biden signed the orders.
Still, Kerry and other other officials emphasized that the orders are also aimed at “creating well-paying jobs ... and delivering justice for communities who have been subjected to environmental harm.’’Still, Kerry and other other officials emphasized that the orders are also aimed at “creating well-paying jobs ... and delivering justice for communities who have been subjected to environmental harm.’’
Republicans immediately criticized the plan as a job killer.Republicans immediately criticized the plan as a job killer.
Biden also is elevating climate change to a national security priority. The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030 as part of Biden’s campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming.Biden also is elevating climate change to a national security priority. The conservation plan would set aside millions of acres for recreation, wildlife and climate efforts by 2030 as part of Biden’s campaign pledge for a $2 trillion program to slow global warming.
Donald Trump, who ridiculed the science of climate change, withdrew the US from the Paris global climate accord, opened more public lands to coal, gas and oil production and weakened regulation on fossil fuel emissions. Experts say these emissions are heating the Earth’s climate dangerously and worsening floods, droughts and other natural disasters.Donald Trump, who ridiculed the science of climate change, withdrew the US from the Paris global climate accord, opened more public lands to coal, gas and oil production and weakened regulation on fossil fuel emissions. Experts say these emissions are heating the Earth’s climate dangerously and worsening floods, droughts and other natural disasters.
Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb called the executive orders an “excellent start” for the week-old Biden administration.Georgia Tech climate scientist Kim Cobb called the executive orders an “excellent start” for the week-old Biden administration.
“If this Day 7 momentum is representative of this administration’s 4-year term, there is every reason to believe that we might achieve carbon neutrality sooner than 2050,” even as key roadblocks lie ahead, Cobb said.“If this Day 7 momentum is representative of this administration’s 4-year term, there is every reason to believe that we might achieve carbon neutrality sooner than 2050,” even as key roadblocks lie ahead, Cobb said.
Here is a great breakdown of some of the climate related actions the Biden administration took today:Here is a great breakdown of some of the climate related actions the Biden administration took today:
Instruct the US government to pause and review all oil and gas drilling on federal landInstruct the US government to pause and review all oil and gas drilling on federal land
Called on federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidiesCalled on federal agencies to eliminate fossil fuel subsidies
Instructed the federal government to transform the government’s vast fleet of cars and trucks into electric vehiclesInstructed the federal government to transform the government’s vast fleet of cars and trucks into electric vehicles
Here’s some more context from my colleague Oliver Milman:Here’s some more context from my colleague Oliver Milman:
Biden is saying words unthinkable in the Trump administration. He’s not only mentioned the climate crisis in so many words, he said the US was not only rejoining the Paris climate accord but was keen to talk to other nations to help “the most vulnerable from the impact of climate change”.
The US president vowed to convene a world summit on Earth Day (April 22) to talk about action for the more vulnerable as well as “collective resilience”.
“Environmental justice will be at the center of all we do,” he said.
He talked about funneling extra federal funding to communities badly affected by, for example, environmental pollution. He specifically named the so-called “Cancer Alley” region of Louisiana about which the Guardian has done extensive and in-depth reporting.
“We can do this, we must do this and we will do this,” said Biden, as he walked over to sign executive orders to “meet the climate crisis”. The president said his focus was on jobs, equity and scientific integrity.
The US president is pledging a million new jobs in the US automobile industry being generated by the federal government switching it entire fleet to electric vehicles.
Biden ran on a platform that addressing the human-caused climate crisis would be an opportunity for “jobs of the future”.
He confirmed the creation of a new White House office of domestic climate policy, to be led by Gina McCarthy, who spoke at the press briefing earlier with the new US global climate envoy and former secretary of state John Kerry.
Biden just turned a page on Trump by referring sincerely to the “climate crisis”.
Biden just reiterated: “We are not going to ban fracking”
In a sharp 180-degree turn from the Trump administration, Joe Biden just began a briefing on what he is calling the White House’s “Climate Day”.
“We’ve waited too long to deal with this climate crisis,” he said, using a phrase Trump never used, preferring to call climate change a hoax or something dreamed up by Democrats and other mad liberals.
Biden just referred to “the existential threat of climate change, because it IS an existential threat”.
Joe Biden is expected this Friday to issue executive orders on asylum at the US-Mexico border, refugee resettlement and the reunification of migrant families, according to a Biden transition team memo shared with lawmakers and interviews with two people familiar with the plans.
Biden has vowed to reverse many policies put in place by the former Republican president, Donald Trump, a process that could take months or years.The White House declined to comment and people familiar with discussions cautioned that plans could change, Reuters reports.
Biden plans to rescind some Trump policies that made it harder to obtain asylum in the United States, according to the memo.
The memo did not specify which polices would be reversed, but a person familiar with the plans said Biden would end a controversial Trump program known as the Migrant Protection Protocols.
The Biden administration announced last Wednesday that it would end all new enrollments in the program, which has forced more than 65,000 asylum seekers back to Mexico to wait for US immigration court hearings.
The Biden administration has not said what will happen to migrants already enrolled in the program, but DHS stated in its announcement last week they should “remain where they are” and await further US government instruction.
In addition, Biden plans to roll back a Trump rule that sought to block asylum seekers who pass through another country en route to the United States, the person said.
Biden will also direct US agencies to create strategies to address the root causes of migration from Central America and expand opportunities for migrants to come to the United States legally, the memo said.
Biden is eventually expected to scrap asylum agreements struck by the Trump administration with Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, three people close to the Biden transition told Reuters last month. Whether he will take that step on Friday remains unclear.Biden will create a task force to reunite migrant families who were separated at the US-Mexico border by Trump’s immigration policies.
Parties in a lawsuit over the separations have been unable to reach the parents of more than 600 children, according to a court filing this month.Biden is expected to issue an executive order that would remove barriers to legal immigration and citizenship.As part of that effort, the order will begin the process of rescinding Trump’s so-called “public charge” rule, which makes it harder for immigrants who are poor or need certain government benefits to secure residency and stay in the country, according to two people familiar with the plans.Biden is expected to lay out principles that will guide his administration’s global refugee policy.He has pledged to raise annual refugee intake levels to 125,000, up from the record-low 15,000-person ceiling set by Trump for fiscal year 2021, which began on Oct. 1, 2020.
Biden is not expected to immediately raise the refugee limit. Instead, the Biden administration will follow a formal process that involves consulting with Congress, according to two people familiar with the plan.
White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients says it’s essential that Congress pass Joe Biden’s Covid-19 relief bill to keep the momentum on vaccinations and more testing capacity to contain the virus.
Zients says the administration is committed to delivering on Biden’s goal of 100 million shots in 100 days, and more if doable.
But his top aide, Andy Slavitt, also says 500 million shots would be needed to vaccinate all Americans 16 and older.
Biden’s “American Rescue Plan” has a total price tag of $1.9 trillion, which is making some Republicans in Congress balk. But most of the cost is to shore up the economy, The Associated Press reports.
It’s been a busy morning in US political news. The White House press briefing is still going on, now with Q & A with press sec Jen Psaki, and Joe Biden is expected within the half hour to talk about the climate crisis. So do stay tuned.
Here are the main developments so far today:
White House new climate experts refer to “climate crisis” and discuss urgent action to be taken to create “jobs of the future” and climate justice in clean break from Trump era.
Biden administration leaves Covid-19 briefings to scientists and researchers. At the first public briefing by the White House coronavirus task force under the new president, Joe Biden, the president himself was absent – by design.
In call with Nato secretary general, Biden reaffirms US support for military alliance, doesn’t push on funding complaints, in another break from Trump.
Biden is expected to sign an executive order tomorrow to reopen the HealthCare.gov insurance markets for a special sign-up opportunity geared to people needing coverage in the coronavirus pandemic.
A reporter just asked how international partners will know the US is fully committed to combatting climate change, and will not double back on efforts.
Kerry said he hopes the Biden administration will be “move the marketplace”, to the extent that, “no one would be able to undo” what the planet will be doing in the coming “months and years”.
He also said major banks and asset managers are increasingly realizing “the need to put assets into this endeavor”.
McCarthy follows: in spite of the Trump administration’s efforts, “clean energy has gone faster and farther than anyone would have expected.” She said the “private sectors going to drive,” these changes.
The administration continues to focus on jobs, jobs, jobs. “It’s going to benefit jobs, it’s going to benefit our health and it’s going to lead to the future we want to hand down to our children,” said McCarthy.
“Workers have been fed a falsehood,” said Kerry. He said workers have been “fed” that “dealing with climate” will end their livelihood. He said the same workers who put together internal combustion engine cars can put together electric cars.
“Quality of life will be better,” said Kerry. Fewer fossil fuel driven jobs will result in, “healthier [jobs], less cancer, cleaner air.”
“We spend $55bn a year on it is environmentally induced asthma... that will change as we begin to reign in what we used to call pollution in this country,” said Kerry.
“We’re not going to ask people to go from the middle of Ohio or Pennsylvania to ship out to the coasts for solar jobs,” said McCarthy. Instead, the administration will focus on putting people to work in their own communities, such as capping methane-emitting abandoned oil and gas wells.
Kerry just fielded a question on how the US will bring China, which like the US is a major greenhouse gas emitter, to the table for negotiations. He said the US will need to “compartmentalize” on climate despite policy differences of the two nations.
McCarthy also took a question on the administration’s coal policy. She said the administration is committed to taking a “close look” at how to handle coal, and said the president intends to lead with jobs.
She then refers back to the question of how to bring China to the table, and the importance of bringing manufacturing back to the US.
“There is going to be a large discussion of building up our manufacturing base again,” said McCarthy. Part of that is “making sure the federal government buys American.”
Now it’s John Kerry’s turn. He is the first international presidential envoy on climate change.
“The stakes on climate change just couldn’t be any higher,” said Kerry. “We have a big agenda in front of us on a global basis,” he said.
Among the president’s actions, Kerry said, the 17 intelligence agencies of the US would come together to assess the security risks of the climate crisis, and develop a global climate finance plan, among other international actions.
“Failure, literally, is not an option,” said Kerry. “2021 is going to be the year to make up for the last four years.”