Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform

The call for gun reform comes on the third anniversary of the Parkland shooting.

Last Updated: February 16, 2021, 1:00 PM EST

This is Day 26 of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Feb 13, 2021, 4:35 PM EST

1st tweet from Biden after impeachment vote is focused on COVID relief

Following the Senate impeachment vote Saturday -- in which seven Republicans voted guilty, and Trump was acquitted -- the first tweet posted to Biden's account highlighted his bipartisan meeting Friday with mayors and governors in the Oval Office on the American Rescue plan. 

"America’s governors and mayors understand the fight against COVID-19 and the urgency of another relief bill. Yesterday, I met with a bipartisan group of them to discuss the American Rescue Plan and how we can work together to meet the crises we face," the POTUS account tweeted with a photo of the meeting. 

The White House continuously dodged questions on impeachment this week, saying the administration’s focus was on helping Americans struggling amid the pandemic.

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

Feb 13, 2021, 3:31 PM EST

Why Biden allies in Senate opposed calling witnesses: Sources

Biden allies in the Senate told House impeachment managers during their deliberation Saturday afternoon that they opposed calling witnesses, making it clear that calling witnesses would take away from the president’s agenda and had the potential to derail COVID-19 relief, according to multiple sources close to the deliberations behind the scenes.

PHOTO: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican senators and staff talk on the floor after a vote on the motion to allow witnesses in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate. Feb. 13, 2021.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and other Republican senators and staff talk on the floor after a vote on the motion to allow witnesses in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol, Feb. 13, 2021.
AP

A White House official told ABC News that the White House was not involved with discussions over calling witnesses or the deal that was made.

The Senate Saturday voted 55-45 to hear from witnesses, but then the Trump legal team and House impeachment managers came to the agreement to admit the written testimony of Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Wash., into evidence and not request further witnesses.

The U.S. Senate votes 55-45 to call witnesses in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on charges of inciting the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol, during the 5th day of the Senate trial on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2021.
U.S. Senate TV via Reuters

Herrera Beutler, one of ten House Republicans who voted to impeach, tweeted a statement Friday reiterating comments she made about a talk she had with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy regarding Trump's involvement in the Capitol siege.

In Herrera Beutler's statement, she reiterated her claims -- which she made earlier to Washington newspaper The Daily News -- that McCarthy spoke to Trump as rioters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, but Trump refused to stop them.

-ABC News’ Cecilia Vega, Katherine Faulders and Ben Siegel

Feb 12, 2021, 9:23 PM EST

State Department raises Myanmar travel advisory level

The U.S. Department of State raised Myanmar's travel advisory level to "Level 4: Do Not Travel" Friday, as protests against the military's seizure of power earlier this month continue. 

The updated travel advisory states to not travel to Myanmar "due to COVID-19 as well as areas of civil unrest and armed conflict."

"The Burmese military has detained and deposed elected government officials," the travel advisory states. "Protests and demonstrations against military rule have occurred and are expected to continue."  

The State Department has not ordered the evacuation of U.S. Embassy staff at this time.

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan

Feb 12, 2021, 6:51 PM EST

Biden calls on Congress to pass COVID-19 relief

In a written statement this evening, President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal "right away" to help pay for the additional costs to keep schools safe as they reopen.

He also urged states to prioritize vaccinations for teachers, based on the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Biden said the CDC's guidelines to schools include "the best available scientific evidence on how to reopen schools safely" -- such as ensuring social distancing, masking, hand washing and more.

"To meet these guidelines, some schools will need more teachers and support staff to ensure smaller class sizes, more buses and bus drivers to transport our kids safely, more spaces to conduct in-person instruction, and more protective equipment, school cleaning services, and physical alterations to reduce the risk of spread of the virus," Biden wrote.

"These needs cost money," he continued. "But the cost of keeping our children, families, and educators safe is nothing when compared with the cost of inaction."

The House passed the Senate-amended budget resolution last week, paving the way for Biden's COVID-19 relief plan. House Democrats are currently working to assemble the package, with the goal to get a final bill to the president's desk before mid-March.

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

Related Topics