Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

First lady Jill Biden had giant Valentine's Day messages installed on the north lawn of the White House.

The large, heart-shaped cutouts featured words like "unity," "kindness" and "healing."

"Overnight, the First Lady’s surprise Valentine messages to the country were installed on the north lawn for the weekend, hearkening back to the days of sharing candy hearts between friends and family," the Office of the First Lady said in a statement Friday morning. "As you may know, the First Lady is known for her sense of humor, love of surprises, and celebrating traditions, especially with her family. Valentine’s Day has always been one of her favorite holidays. Sending messages of healing, unity, hope and compassion, this is her Valentine to the country."

The first lady appeared outside with the president, along with their dogs Champ and Major, to view the installation and speak with reporters.

"We hope this lifted your spirits," Jill Biden said, with a mug of coffee in hand.

When asked about his message to Americans who may be feeling down or discouraged amid the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed over 475,000 people in the United States, the president said to "stay strong" and referenced his own experience with losing loved ones.

“There is hope," Biden said. "You just have to stay strong. A lot of people have gone through unbearable suffering. They’ve lost their families, lost their children, lost their husbands, wives, moms, dads, and it’s almost unbearable. The only thing I can say to them is that they’re still in your heart."

"They really are," he added. "I can tell you from experience, they’re in your heart."

-ABC News' Justin Gomez

The U.S. will have enough supply to vaccinate 300 million Americans against COVID-19 by the end of July, President Biden said Thursday while speaking at the National Institutes of Health.

Until now, the administration has typically offered "by the end of summer" for that timeline. 

Biden said Thursday the administration has been able to expedite the delivery of 100 million doses from the end of June to the end of May. Plus, 200 million additional doses the administration previously announced it planned to buy will be delivered by the end of July -- which is sooner than expected. 

"That's a month faster. That means lives will be saved. That means we're now on track to have enough supply for 300 million Americans by the end of July," Biden said. 

The administration has signed final contracts for those additional 200 million doses, which include 100 million doses each of Pfizer's and Moderna's vaccines, Biden also announced. These 200 million doses, plus 400 million doses the Trump administration contracted for, would be enough to have two shots of both vaccines for 300 million Americans.

For now, Biden implored Americans to continue wearing masks and doing their part to prevent more death.

"I know it's a pain in the neck, but it's a patriotic responsibility," Biden said. "Do you realize more people have died in the last 12 months than died in all four years in World War II? All four years."

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky

National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy convened the first-ever meeting of the National Climate Task Force, which President Biden created during his first week in office to combat climate change, on Thursday. 

The Task Force resembles a cabinet meeting, with the leaders of 21 federal agencies all participating, including the secretaries of Treasury, Defense, Interior, Commerce, Education, Transportation and Energy.

Vice President Harris also "dropped by the Task Force meeting," according to the White House readout.

The participants met virtually, working "to ensure the United States leads the world in a clean energy revolution that creates American jobs with the chance to join a union and builds back an inclusive, equitable economy," the readout stated. 

-ABC News' Sara Kolinovsky

The Biden administration sanctioned 10 leaders of Myanmar's military and three businesses connected to the armed forces for what the U.S. has labeled a "coup."

The officials include commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and deputy commander-in-chief Soe Win, who were already under U.S. sanctions, and three lieutenants general and the first vice president, a former lieutenant general, who seized control on Feb. 1. Four other military leaders named by the military to cabinet roles were also sanctioned.

The U.S. is also freezing the assets of three businesses that are controlled by the military. It is unclear at this time what U.S.-based assets these companies would have, but the military's reach extends throughout the Southeast Asian country's economy after decades of rule.

The sanctions and other economic penalties come one day after President Biden announced he had approved an executive order authorizing the sanctions and freezing $1 billion of U.S.-based assets controlled by the military.

In addition, the U.S. Agency for International Development also announced Thursday that it is immediately redirecting $42.4 million of U.S. assistance that would have benefited the government, while the Commerce Department is reimposing export controls on the country's military and security forces.

It's unclear if the reimposed penalties will have any effect reversing the coup, which has been met by days of sustained pro-democracy protests.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan