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Jill Biden to kick off campaign to encourage US child vaccination – live Jill Biden kicks off campaign to encourage US child vaccination – live
(32 minutes later)
First lady to visit clinic in Virginia with surgeon general after officials approved lower dose for children five to 11 – get the latest First lady visit school clinic in Virginia with surgeon general after officials approved lower dose for children five to 11 – get the latest
The principal of Franklin Sherman Elementary School, Kathleen Quigley, welcomed Jill Biden and Vivek Murthy to the pop-up vaccination clinic for students.
When asked for her message to parents who are hesitant to vaccinate their children, the first lady said she would tell them that the vaccines are “great, effective and free”.
According to a pool report, about 260 children will be vaccinated at Franklin Sherman today. The majority of those children attend the elementary school.
Jill Biden has arrived at Franklin Sherman Elementary School in McLean, Virginia, to promote coronavirus vaccinations for children.
The first lady is joined by Dr Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general. The event comes less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the administration of a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11.
Franklin Sherman also has a unique history, as it was the first school to administer the polio vaccine in 1954.
The deputy White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, would not provide a specific timeline for when Joe Biden will sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill.The deputy White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, would not provide a specific timeline for when Joe Biden will sign the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
The president previously indicated that he would wait to sign the bill until Democratic lawmakers are back in town. The House and the Senate are both out of session this week.The president previously indicated that he would wait to sign the bill until Democratic lawmakers are back in town. The House and the Senate are both out of session this week.
“It’s urgent, but we also want to make sure that the people who spent the last couple of weeks, last couple of months just all in delivering on this promise are here for the signing as well,” Jean-Pierre said.“It’s urgent, but we also want to make sure that the people who spent the last couple of weeks, last couple of months just all in delivering on this promise are here for the signing as well,” Jean-Pierre said.
Although she would not provide a specific date for the bill-signing, Jean-Pierre said it would happen “very soon”.Although she would not provide a specific date for the bill-signing, Jean-Pierre said it would happen “very soon”.
After taking over the briefing room podium, deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Republican resistance to the Biden administration’s new policies requiring coronavirus vaccines in many workplaces.After taking over the briefing room podium, deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about Republican resistance to the Biden administration’s new policies requiring coronavirus vaccines in many workplaces.
A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked one of the rules, which requires workers at companies with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated or receive regular coronavirus testing.A federal appeals court has temporarily blocked one of the rules, which requires workers at companies with 100 or more employees to get vaccinated or receive regular coronavirus testing.
“Defending a policy is not a new thing from an administration,” Jean-Pierre said of the court ruling. “This is something that happens all the time.”“Defending a policy is not a new thing from an administration,” Jean-Pierre said of the court ruling. “This is something that happens all the time.”
Jean-Pierre argued there was clear precedent for the federal government to keep workers safe by setting certain standards for employers.Jean-Pierre argued there was clear precedent for the federal government to keep workers safe by setting certain standards for employers.
“The administration clearly has the authority to protect workers, and actions announced by the president are designed to save lives and stop the spread of Covid-19,” Jean-Pierre said.“The administration clearly has the authority to protect workers, and actions announced by the president are designed to save lives and stop the spread of Covid-19,” Jean-Pierre said.
Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said the bipartisan infrastructure bill will also provide funding to strengthen America’s supply chain networks.Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg said the bipartisan infrastructure bill will also provide funding to strengthen America’s supply chain networks.
The House passage of the bill comes as the country has experienced product shortages as a result of supply-chain issues caused by the pandemic.The House passage of the bill comes as the country has experienced product shortages as a result of supply-chain issues caused by the pandemic.
Buttigieg added that the most effective strategy to address supply-chain issues is to boost vaccination rates to limit the spread of coronavirus and keep workplaces open.Buttigieg added that the most effective strategy to address supply-chain issues is to boost vaccination rates to limit the spread of coronavirus and keep workplaces open.
“The best way to end a pandemic-related shortage is to end the pandemic,” Buttigieg said.“The best way to end a pandemic-related shortage is to end the pandemic,” Buttigieg said.
Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed that Joe Biden has not yet signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, although the House passed the proposal on Friday night.Transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg confirmed that Joe Biden has not yet signed the bipartisan infrastructure bill, although the House passed the proposal on Friday night.
Buttigieg would not specify when Biden might sign the legislation, but he said he will “be there with bells on” when the bill-signing occurs.Buttigieg would not specify when Biden might sign the legislation, but he said he will “be there with bells on” when the bill-signing occurs.
The cabinet secretary also echoed the president’s claim that Americans will be able to see the effects of the infrastructure bill within a couple of months.The cabinet secretary also echoed the president’s claim that Americans will be able to see the effects of the infrastructure bill within a couple of months.
Buttigieg acknowledged it will take longer to establish the new programs included in the bill, but he said existing programs that are receiving additional funding from the legislation should be able to move forward more quickly.Buttigieg acknowledged it will take longer to establish the new programs included in the bill, but he said existing programs that are receiving additional funding from the legislation should be able to move forward more quickly.
He also noted that the department of transportation will have to take on additional staff to handle the distribution of funds from the infrastructure bill.He also noted that the department of transportation will have to take on additional staff to handle the distribution of funds from the infrastructure bill.
The deputy White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is now holding the daily briefing, and she is joined by transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.The deputy White House press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, is now holding the daily briefing, and she is joined by transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The cabinet secretary touted the House passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes $555bn in new federal funding for roads, bridges and other projects.The cabinet secretary touted the House passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which includes $555bn in new federal funding for roads, bridges and other projects.
Buttigieg noted the bill would provide funding to replace out-of-date water pipes, improve railway systems and invest in public transit.Buttigieg noted the bill would provide funding to replace out-of-date water pipes, improve railway systems and invest in public transit.
“We are excited with an exclamation point,” Buttigieg said of the bill.“We are excited with an exclamation point,” Buttigieg said of the bill.
Ron DeSantis has begun his campaign to be re-elected Florida governor in 2022, a campaign most observers expect to presage a campaign for the White House in 2024.Ron DeSantis has begun his campaign to be re-elected Florida governor in 2022, a campaign most observers expect to presage a campaign for the White House in 2024.
At a press conference this morning, the Republican said paperwork filed regarding next year’s gubernatorial contest was simply a formality. Most polling makes DeSantis a strong contender for the Republican presidential nomination – if you remove Donald Trump from the equation, of course.At a press conference this morning, the Republican said paperwork filed regarding next year’s gubernatorial contest was simply a formality. Most polling makes DeSantis a strong contender for the Republican presidential nomination – if you remove Donald Trump from the equation, of course.
On Monday DeSantis, who has chaneled Trump and Trumpism very effectively since winning election in Florida in 2018, also previewed a key campaign theme – or, well, repeated a key theme of his everyday approach to political battle – by taking a shot at a Biden administration rule that says businesses with 100 or more employees must demand from those employees either vaccination against Covid-19 or weekly testing.On Monday DeSantis, who has chaneled Trump and Trumpism very effectively since winning election in Florida in 2018, also previewed a key campaign theme – or, well, repeated a key theme of his everyday approach to political battle – by taking a shot at a Biden administration rule that says businesses with 100 or more employees must demand from those employees either vaccination against Covid-19 or weekly testing.
“No cop, no firefighter, no nurse, nobody should be losing their jobs because of these jabs,” DeSantis told reporters. “We have got to stand up for people and protect their jobs and protect their livelihoods.”“No cop, no firefighter, no nurse, nobody should be losing their jobs because of these jabs,” DeSantis told reporters. “We have got to stand up for people and protect their jobs and protect their livelihoods.”
For the moment no cop, firefighter, nurse or anyone else will be losing their jobs because of the Biden rule, which was temporarily stayed by a conservative judge in New Orleans on Saturday. The administration says it is confident it will prevail.For the moment no cop, firefighter, nurse or anyone else will be losing their jobs because of the Biden rule, which was temporarily stayed by a conservative judge in New Orleans on Saturday. The administration says it is confident it will prevail.
Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried are among Democrats who would like to challenge DeSantis for governor in Florida.Charlie Crist and Nikki Fried are among Democrats who would like to challenge DeSantis for governor in Florida.
Fried, the highest-placed Democrat in the state, as agriculture commissioner, has often clashed with DeSantis publicly, notably over posthumous honours for the conservative shock jock Rush Limbaugh.Fried, the highest-placed Democrat in the state, as agriculture commissioner, has often clashed with DeSantis publicly, notably over posthumous honours for the conservative shock jock Rush Limbaugh.
Crist was a Republican when he was governor in the 2000s – he’s now a Democratic member of the US House.Crist was a Republican when he was governor in the 2000s – he’s now a Democratic member of the US House.
No Democrat has won a gubernatorial election in Florida since 1994.No Democrat has won a gubernatorial election in Florida since 1994.
The United Nations special rapporteur on the right to health has called on the US supreme court to uphold the right to abortion in America or risk undermining international human rights law and threatening that right elsewhere in the world.The United Nations special rapporteur on the right to health has called on the US supreme court to uphold the right to abortion in America or risk undermining international human rights law and threatening that right elsewhere in the world.
The special rapporteur, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, is one of just a handful of global observers whose mandate is to travel the world defending human rights.The special rapporteur, Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng, is one of just a handful of global observers whose mandate is to travel the world defending human rights.
Mofokeng has argued in a brief filed in a US court that overturning abortion rights would violate international human rights treaties ratified by the US, including the convention against torture, should women be forced to carry pregnancies to term.Mofokeng has argued in a brief filed in a US court that overturning abortion rights would violate international human rights treaties ratified by the US, including the convention against torture, should women be forced to carry pregnancies to term.
Donald Trump once described Mitch McConnell as his “ace in the hole” and wrote, in a foreword to the Senate Republican leader’s autobiography, that he “couldn’t have asked for a better partner” in Washington.Donald Trump once described Mitch McConnell as his “ace in the hole” and wrote, in a foreword to the Senate Republican leader’s autobiography, that he “couldn’t have asked for a better partner” in Washington.
Except, according to Trump, he didn’t.Except, according to Trump, he didn’t.
Speaking to the Washington Post for a profile of the Senate minority leader published on Monday, Trump said he told McConnell: “‘Why don’t you write it for me and I’ll put it in, Mitch?’ Because that’s the way life works.”Speaking to the Washington Post for a profile of the Senate minority leader published on Monday, Trump said he told McConnell: “‘Why don’t you write it for me and I’ll put it in, Mitch?’ Because that’s the way life works.”
McConnell did not dispute Trump’s account, about the book The Long Game, telling the paper: “I really don’t have anything to add related to him.”McConnell did not dispute Trump’s account, about the book The Long Game, telling the paper: “I really don’t have anything to add related to him.”
The Post profile lands at a tricky time for Republican leaders. Last week’s stunning victory in the election for governor in Virginia was achieved by a candidate who kept Trump at arm’s length while deploying many of his tactics. But the former president remains a dominant presence, seemingly likely to run for the White House again.The Post profile lands at a tricky time for Republican leaders. Last week’s stunning victory in the election for governor in Virginia was achieved by a candidate who kept Trump at arm’s length while deploying many of his tactics. But the former president remains a dominant presence, seemingly likely to run for the White House again.
He and McConnell, the two most powerful men in the GOP, are firmly at odds over Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen and over control of a party McConnell steers in the 50-50 Senate, which Democrats control via Vice-President Kamala Harris.He and McConnell, the two most powerful men in the GOP, are firmly at odds over Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen and over control of a party McConnell steers in the 50-50 Senate, which Democrats control via Vice-President Kamala Harris.
McConnell’s support for the bipartisan infrastructure deal which the House sent to Joe Biden’s desk on Friday only deepened the divide. In a statement on Sunday, Trump said “all Republicans who voted for Democrat longevity should be ashamed of themselves in particular, Mitch McConnell”.McConnell’s support for the bipartisan infrastructure deal which the House sent to Joe Biden’s desk on Friday only deepened the divide. In a statement on Sunday, Trump said “all Republicans who voted for Democrat longevity should be ashamed of themselves in particular, Mitch McConnell”.
Here’s where the day stands so far:Here’s where the day stands so far:
Jill Biden will kick off her campaign to convince more American parents to vaccinate their children against coronavirus. The first lady’s kickoff event, which will take place this afternoon in McLean, Virginia, comes less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the administration of a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11.Jill Biden will kick off her campaign to convince more American parents to vaccinate their children against coronavirus. The first lady’s kickoff event, which will take place this afternoon in McLean, Virginia, comes less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the administration of a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11.
Biden will travel to Baltimore on Wednesday to deliver a pitch on the benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, after the House approved the proposal on Friday night. The president has not yet signed the bill, which includes $555bn in new federal funding for roads, bridges and railways, among many other projects.Biden will travel to Baltimore on Wednesday to deliver a pitch on the benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, after the House approved the proposal on Friday night. The president has not yet signed the bill, which includes $555bn in new federal funding for roads, bridges and railways, among many other projects.
Barack Obama criticized Donald Trump’s climate policies while speaking at the Cop26 conference in Glasgow. The former president lamented his successor’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, saying, “I wasn’t real happy about that.” But Obama predicted that Biden’s climate agenda will “set the United States on course to meet its new climate targets”.Barack Obama criticized Donald Trump’s climate policies while speaking at the Cop26 conference in Glasgow. The former president lamented his successor’s decision to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement, saying, “I wasn’t real happy about that.” But Obama predicted that Biden’s climate agenda will “set the United States on course to meet its new climate targets”.
The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
At least one high-profile Democrat, Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, has already indicated that she opposes the potential renomination of Federal Reserve chair Jay Powell.
“Your record gives me grave concerns,” the progressive lawmaker told Powell at a Senate hearing last month.
“Over and over, you have acted to make our banking system less safe, and that makes you a dangerous man to head up the Fed, and it’s why I will oppose your renomination.”
Federal Reserve governor Randal Quarles has announced he will resign next month, giving Joe Biden another opening to fill at the US central bank.
“After more than four years as a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and given the completion last month of my term as Vice Chairman for Supervision of the Board, I intend to resign my position as a Governor of the Federal Reserve during or around the last week of December of this year,” Quarles said in a letter to Biden.
“It has been a great privilege to work with my colleagues on the Board, throughout the Federal Reserve System, and among the global central banking and regulatory community.”
Quarles’ announcement comes as Biden also has to make a decision on whether to nominate Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell for another term.
Bloomberg News reports:
After the House passage of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Democrats’ attention has turned to the $1.75tn reconciliation package, which includes more than $500bn for climate initiatives.
A handful of House progressives voted against the infrastructure bill because of their demand that the reconciliation package advance at the same time.
Progressives worried that some of their centrist colleagues, like Senator Joe Manchin, would not feel motivated to pass the reconciliation package once the infrastructure bill was sent to Joe Biden’s desk.
Asked about concerns that Democrats may lose momentum in the negotiations over the reconciliation bill, Biden said on Saturday, “I feel confident that we will have enough votes to pass the Build Back Better plan.”
Barack Obama addressed the Cop26 climate change conference today, opening with a cheery “Hello, Glasgow!”
The former US president, tieless and looking relaxed, said that he doesn’t need to attend such conferences anymore, but “you will have a hard time keeping me away” when it comes to the future of the planet.
Obama said “meaningful progress” has been made since the Paris climate accords, which he helped to strike, but he acknowledged that more needs to be done.
“What is also true, collectively and individually we are still falling short,” he said. “We have not done nearly enough to address this crisis, we will need to do more.”
Obama admitted that “some progress stalled” when Donald Trump withdrew the US from the Paris deal. “I wasn’t real happy about that,” he added, but said the “US is back” under Joe Biden’s leadership.
He also argued that, despite opposition within the Democratic party, some version of Biden’s ambitious $555bn climate package will pass in Congress in the coming weeks. “It will set the United States on course to meet its new climate targets,” he said.
Follow the Guardian’s live blog for more updates from Cop26:
Joe Biden has now arrived back at the White House, after he and the first lady spent some time at their home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, this weekend.
As the president approached the White House, reporters shouted questions at him about his economic agenda and the results of last week’s elections.
When asked about whether he would soon speak to Glenn Youngkin, the Republican governor-elect of Virginia, it sounded like the president replied, “I tried to call him.”
The White House deputy press secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, said on Thursday that the president had not yet spoken with Youngkin.
“The will of the people is clear, and the president has always believed in working across party lines for the good of the American families,” Jean-Pierre said at a press briefing. “And he looks forward to doing that with Governor-elect Youngkin.”
The Guardian’s Martin Pengelly and David Smith report:
In his Saturday remarks, Joe Biden praised the infrastructure bill as a “once-in-a-generation investment that’s going to create millions of jobs, modernise our infrastructure, our roads, our bridges, our broadband, a range of things turning the climate crisis into an opportunity, and a put us on a path to win the economic competition of the 21st century that we face with China and other large countries in the rest of the world”.
The House approved the $1tn bill late on Friday, after Democrats resolved a months-long standoff between progressives and centrists. The measure passed 228-206. Thirteen Republicans, mostly moderates, supported the bill while six progressive Democrats opposed it, among them Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
Approval sent the bill to the desk of a president whose approval ratings have dropped and whose party struggled in elections this week.
Biden said he would not sign the bill over the weekend because he wanted those who passed it to be there when he did so.
“We’re looking more forward to having shovels in the ground,” Biden said. “To begin rebuilding America.”
Joe Biden will travel to Baltimore, Maryland, on Wednesday to deliver a pitch for the benefits of the bipartisan infrastructure bill, which passed the House on Friday.
In Baltimore, the president will “discuss how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal delivers for the American people by upgrading our nation’s ports and strengthening supply chains to prevent disruptions,” per the White House’s guidance on the trip.
The House was able to pass the bill on Friday night, after speaker Nancy Pelosi decided to delay another planned vote on the larger spending package championed by Democrats.
The infrastructure bill, which passed the Senate in August, provides $555bn in new federal funding for roads, bridges and railways, among many other projects.
Celebrating the House’s passage of the bill, Biden said on Saturday, “This is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America. And it’s long overdue.”
As Jill Biden launches her campaign to encourage American parents to vaccinate their children against coronavirus, the White House is taking additional steps to boost vaccination rates among kids.
The AP reports:
Many US schools have been affected by coronavirus-related closures this year, and there are high hopes that the approval of a vaccine for all school-aged children could help keep classrooms open moving forward.
Eric Berger reports on the Biden administration’s efforts to enact vaccine requirements in workplaces:
Biden administration plans to get US companies with more than 100 or more workers to vaccinate their staff or bring in regular tests have been welcomed by public health groups but slammed by Republicans and trade groups, who claim government overreach with negative economic consequences.
Such divided reaction to the rules announced last week mirrors much of America’s problematic vaccine rollout, where social and political headwinds have seen vaccination take-up slow down worryingly.
US vaccination rates are some of the lowest in industrialized countries where the vaccine is readily available.
Subject at least to a temporary stay issued by a circuit court in New Orleans on Saturday, the new rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Osha) will take effect on 4 January.
But the rules sparked new backlash from Republican lawmakers and conservative groups who described the measures as unconstitutional. Republican governors or attorneys general in 15 states plan to file lawsuits against the mandate, according to the Associated Press. “This rule is garbage,” South Carolina’s attorney general, Alan Wilson, a Republican, said, according to the AP. “It’s unconstitutional and we will fight it.”
Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.
First lady Jill Biden will kick off a campaign this afternoon to convince more American parents to vaccinate their children against coronavirus.
Biden and Dr Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general, will visit a vaccination clinic at Franklin Sherman elementary school in McLean, Virginia, which was the first school to administer the polio vaccine in 1954.
The event comes less than a week after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved the administration of a lower dose of the Pfizer vaccine to children between the ages of five and 11.
The Biden administration is now coordinating with schools, pharmacies and local health departments to ensure families have access to vaccines and (perhaps more crucially) give parents information about why kids should get their shots.
The first lady, who is an educator herself, will have the opportunity to deliver that message in person today.
Stay tuned.