Biden's 1st 100 days live updates: Senate passes COVID relief bill along party lines

Biden, announcing the partnership between Merck and Johnson & Johnson to help expand the production of the J&J single-shot vaccine, said the increased vaccine availability means there will be enough supply for every American adult by May.

Biden compared the collaboration of competitors to World War II and likened the pandemic to a wartime effort. He also said his administration encouraged J&J to speed up production and that its "facilities will now begin to operate 24/7."

"When we came into office, the prior administration had contracted for not nearly enough vaccine to cover adults in America. We rectified that. About three weeks ago, we were able to say that we’ll have enough vaccine supply for adults by the end of July," Biden said. "And I'm pleased to announce today, as a consequence of this stepped-up process that I've ordered and just outlined, this country will have enough vaccine supply, I'll say it again, for every adult in America by the end of May."

Biden also announced that he has directed states to prioritize the vaccinations of educators and is using the Federal Pharmacy Program to do so.

"My challenge to all states, territories, and the district of Columbia is this: We want every educator, school staff member, child care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of the month of March," Biden said.

Though Biden touted the progress of vaccines, he issued a somber warning and asked Americans to continue following public health measures.

"We're moving in the right direction," Biden said. "And today's announcements are a huge step in our effort to beat this pandemic, but I have to be honest with you, this fight is far from over."

Following a 15-minute call with Biden and Senate Democrats on Tuesday afternoon, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced the Senate could vote on the $1.9 COVID-19 relief bill "as soon as tomorrow," though Democratic sources are now saying it will likely be Thursday.

Schumer said he expected "a hearty debate" and "some late nights" during the 20-hour Senate session but made the bold prediction: "We'll have the votes we need to pass the bill." 

Biden, Schumer said, "made his pitch" to the caucus "and he said we need to pass this bill and pass it soon."

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Republicans will be "fighting in every way we can" to block the COVID-19 relief bill, during his weekly press conference Tuesday afternoon.

"It is my hope that at the end Senate Republicans will unanimously oppose it," McConnell said.

He blamed the Biden administration for its alleged disinterest in finding a bipartisan approach. 

"We think this package should have been negotiated on a bipartisan basis like the last five bills were done," McConnell said. "Instead the new administration made a conscious decision to jam us."  

-ABC News' Trish Turner and Allison Pecorin

The Senate confirmed Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo to serve as Secretary of Commerce by a vote of 84-15 on Tuesday.

Raimondo is the first female governor of Rhode Island and former general treasurer of the state. The Oxford, Harvard and Yale graduate is a native of Smithfield, Rhode Island, and as general treasurer is credited with revamping the state’s pension system. 

The former Rhode Island governor has been praised for the way the smallest state in the country has dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic, but she has faced criticism over the vaccine rollout. Her nomination was briefly put on hold by Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who voiced concerns over how the commerce secretary would handle Chinese telecom company Huawei. 

Schumer filed cloture on the nomination and the Senate proceeded to her vote today. She clarified her stance on the company, saying there is “no reason” to lift it from the Commerce Department’s entity list, which is a restricted trade list.

-ABC News' Luke Barr and Allison Pecorin

Biden, attending a Democratic Senate caucus virtual lunch Tuesday afternoon, urged Democrats to come together and support his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill and to reject amendments that might change the bill and imperil its passage, according to Democratic sources.

This is part of the president's latest push to get his COVID-19 relief bill passed as it's expected to be voted on in the Senate this week.

-ABC News' Trish Turner