Light At The End Of The Tunnel: Biden In Spotlight As Administration Expands, Turns A Corner In COVID-19 Response
Image Courtesy of ABC News
By Justin Lamoureux
The Biden Administration had a relatively productive week. In the halls of Congress and beyond the White House, Biden reached a number of milestones as he seeks to lay the groundwork for his presidency.
In a boost to Biden’s agenda, his cabinet was expanded this week to include four new members. The Senate held confirmation votes for three of Biden’s nominees on Wednesday, March 10: Michael Regan (Environmental Protection Administrator), Merrick Garland (Attorney General), and Marcia Fudge (Secretary of Housing and Urban Development) all found themselves in this lineup. Despite opposition from a majority of Senate Republicans, all three were confirmed with relatively little difficulty; Regan and Fudge were both confirmed by a vote of 66-34, while Garland was approved 70-30.
It should be noted that two of Biden’s newest cabinet members hold particular significance. Regan is the first Black man to lead the Environmental Protection Agency; his selection was applauded by progressive Democrats, many of whom are encouraging the new administration to focus its efforts on addressing the unique threats climate change poses to underprivileged and minority groups. Garland was once in contention for appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court, having been nominated by former President Barack Obama to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia. His prospects were impeded by Senate Republicans, however, as then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell chose not to hold a confirmation hearing.
Perhaps the most noteworthy confirmation, however, is that of Deb Haaland: Biden’s pick to lead the Department of Interior. A New Mexico Congresswoman, Haaland is the first Native American cabinet secretary in U.S. history. For a time, Haaland’s confirmation seemed uncertain; many Senators – including Republicans and moderate Democrats whose support Haaland required – held concerns regarding her progressive stances on certain fossil fuel projects. Ultimately, though, Haaland managed to overcome such dissent, and was confirmed by a vote of 51-40. Haaland’s confirmation was celebrated by members of the Indigenous community, who expressed confidence in her ability to advocate for their interests.
This week included another significant milestone for the president: His first prime-time address to the American people. Planned to coincide with the one-year anniversary of when COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic, Biden focused primarily on the “collective suffering” the American people have experienced during said crisis. He also made an important declaration regarding the country’s vaccination timetable: States should make vaccines available to all adults no later than May 1. While he cautioned that not everyone will be able to get vaccinated immediately, Biden affirmed that anybody who wishes to receive the vaccine should be allowed to sign up by then.
While he set a goal of making conditions amicable to small gatherings by the Fourth of July, the president stressed that nothing is a given. He urged the public to continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines and to do their part to prevent another surge as the nation approaches a return to normalcy. Upon taking office, President Biden pledged to vaccinate 100 million Americans during his first 100 days. At an expedited rate, the country is believed to have already exceeded this goal (just over two months into this administration).
With the American Rescue Plan Act signed into law, President Biden now faces the task of promoting it among voters. With that in mind, he visited Delaware County, Pennsylvania (which encompasses much of suburban Philadelphia) on Tuesday. The president stopped by a small business in the town of Chester, where he discussed the American Rescue Plan with constituents.
This trip was part of a broader effort by members of the Biden Administration to promote the relief package and ensure that constituents understand its logistics. Said efforts target several battleground states that were critical to Biden’s electoral college victory last November. Biden also plans to visit Georgia on Friday, while Vice President Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, are planning to visit Colorado. The vice president is expected to visit a vaccination clinic in Fort Lupton and participate in a listening session with small business owners at a Denver restaurant.
This week certainly included some pivotal developments for the Biden Administration. By now, 17 of 23 cabinet nominees have received the “green light” of confirmation, allowing them to actively promote Biden’s policy initiatives. In his first primetime address, Biden was able to set the tone for his presidency and inform the American people of how things should look moving forward. This dialogue was buttressed by a visit to meet with the intended beneficiaries of his agenda. As always, it remains to be seen whether Biden’s efforts will resonate with constituents, but his administration seems hopeful regarding the direction they have chosen.
