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

The final vote was 50-49.

ByMichelle Stoddart, Lauren King, and Marlene Lenthang
Last Updated: March 6, 2021, 3:23 PM EST

Today is Day 46 of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Latest headlines:

Here is how the day is unfolding. All time Eastern.
Mar 03, 2021, 7:42 PM EST

Biden to Dems: 'speak up and speak out' about COVID relief plan

Speaking virtually to the House Democratic Caucus Wednesday afternoon, Biden thanked his fellow Democrats for stepping up for Americans amid the COVID-19 pandemic and urged them to keep working to get the coronavirus relief plan to his desk for approval. 

President Joe Biden participates in a virtual event with members of the House Democratic Caucus from the South Court Auditorium in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, March 3, 2021.
Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

In a knock to his close friend and the president he served under, Biden said not to repeat the misstep President Barack Obama made in 2009 when he “didn’t adequately explain” the benefits of the American Recovery Act in 2009 to dig the U.S. out of the Great Recession.

“The economists told us we literally saved America from a depression. But we didn't adequately explain what we had done," Biden said. "Barack was so modest he didn't want to take, as he said, 'a victory lap.' I kept saying, tell people what we did. He said, 'we don't have time. I’m not going to take a victory lap.' And we paid a price for it, ironically, for that humility.”

Biden also said a win for Democrats over this relief bill, will also help them down the road as they get ready to focus on immigration reform and infrastructure.

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

Mar 03, 2021, 7:09 PM EST

Raimondo sworn in as commerce secretary

Gina Raimondo was sworn in as commerce secretary by Vice President Kamala Harris in a ceremony Wednesday night.

Before reading the oath, Harris asked about Raimondo's family and checked to make sure they were on the video conference before starting, according to a report from a reporter who attended the event.

PHOTO: Vice President Kamala Harris and Gina Raimondo, greet Raimondo's family, virtually, before a swearing-in ceremony, in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, March 3, 2021.
Vice President Kamala Harris and Gina Raimondo, greet Raimondo's family, virtually, before a swearing-in ceremony, as Senator Jack Reed, holds a bible in the Vice President's Ceremonial Office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, March 3, 2021.
Oliver Contreras/Pool via Shutterstock

Mar 03, 2021, 4:58 PM EST

Threats to Capitol prompt House leaders to change schedule

The House has changed its schedule so that the chamber will no longer be in session Thursday given concerns about new threats against the Capitol. 

The United States Capitol Police seal appears on the side of a bus parked near the federal law enforcement agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 19, 2021.
Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Sources familiar confirm to ABC News the change in schedule is due to security concerns regarding possible militia action on March 4.

The House is expected to wrap up all of its legislative work Wednesday night.

Democrats had planned a Thursday vote on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2021, a massive policing reform bill. That vote will now take place Wednesday night given these new concerns.

As of right now, there are no plans for the Senate to leave early. The Senate is still expected to begin debate and votes on the $1.9 trillion COVID relief plan.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel and Mariam Khan

Mar 03, 2021, 4:58 PM EST

Biden to join Democratic conference

The President will virtually join the House Democratic Caucus on Wednesday afternoon during their annual retreat, also known as the “Issues Conference.” The theme of this year’s conference is “Build Back Better for the People.”

The President will deliver the final keynote address and participate in a brief question and answer period.