Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

Biden announced Wednesday afternoon that he had approved an executive order allowing the United States to sanction individuals and entities connected to the military’s seizure of power in Myanmar, which the U.S. last week labeled a “coup.”

He said the order would enable the U.S. “to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests, as well as close family members.”

“We will identify a first round of targets this week,” Biden said. “And we're also going to impose strong exports controls. We’re freezing U.S. assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for health care, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly.”

The president also said the U.S. government was “taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the $1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States.”

As he had done last week, Biden called on the military to “relinquish power” and “immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists.” He specifically called for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi and Myanmar’s president, Win Myint.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

Jeff Zients, coordinator of the federal government's COVID-19 response, announced Wednesday a partnership with the state of Texas to build three new community vaccination centers in Dallas, Arlington and Houston.

“Together, these sites will be capable of administering more than 10,000 shots in arms a day,” he said, adding that he expects the sites will start administering shots beginning the week of Feb. 22.

-ABC News' Sophie Tatum

Biden and Harris will meet with newly-confirmed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior military and civilian leadership at the Pentagon Wednesday afternoon.

After the meeting, Biden, Harris and Austin are expected to give remarks to Department of Defense personnel.

Then, Biden and Harris, joined by Austin -- the first Black defense secretary -- will tour the African Americans in Service Corridor at the Pentagon.

The leaders of the Senate Judiciary Committee announced Tuesday they have locked in dates to review and vote on Judge Merrick Garland's attorney general nomination.

The committee will hold hearings on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23 and hold a vote on March 1 to advance his nomination, according to Sen. Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the committee's chair, and Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, the committee's ranking member.

A confirmation by the full Senate is expected soon after that vote.

"Judge Garland’s confirmation is particularly urgent in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 insurrection," Durbin said in a statement.

-ABC News' Trish Turner