Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

Before the impeachment trial starts at noon, a bipartisan group of senators is meeting at the White House to discuss infrastructure.

Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure on his staff, will join virtually.

At 3:45 p.m. the president visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, and at 4:30 p.m. he delivers remarks to NIH staff.

President Joe Biden announced during a visit to the Pentagon that his administration will establish a task force that focuses on U.S. dealings with China.

Biden gave some details about the group, stating that it will look at a broad array of China-related issues, including technology, alliances, partnerships and intelligence.

The task force will be made up of 15 uniformed and civilian officials and will report its findings to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in order to better inform U.S. policy toward China. 

"That's how we'll meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future," Biden said.

During his meeting, Biden praised the military and armed service members, and he reflected on his late son Beau's service.

Lloyd also complimented Beau Biden's service calling him "an absolutely outstanding officer."

"Capt. Biden’s colleagues admired him, and they looked up to him, and he looked after them," Lloyd said. "That dedication lives on in his parents."

In his remarks, Biden emphasized the importance of Black military members throughout history and reflected on the importance of Lloyd's appointment for the community.

"So often, our armed forces and the Department of Defense staff are how the rest of the world encounters America. And you all know as well as anyone that our country is safer and stronger when we lead not just with the example of our power, but with the power of our example," the president said.

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky

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