House expected to pass COVID relief bill next week

President Biden has been briefed on the reemergence of Ebola in Central and West Africa, "and his prayers are with the families who have died and those who are impacted," the White House said today, after Guinea this week declared an outbreak of the disease and Democratic Republic of Congo a week before had confirmed Ebola’s presence there, too.

Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Tuesday spoke with ambassadors from Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia in order “to convey the United States willingness to work closely with the governments of affected countries, and neighboring countries whose citizens would be at risk of the current outbreak spread,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a written statement.

Psaki said "the world cannot afford to turn the other way” and pledged U.S. support to fight the spread of Ebola.

"The Biden Administration will do everything in its power to provide U.S. leadership to stop these outbreaks," she said, "working with the affected governments, the World Health Organization, the African Union and the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and neighboring states."

-ABC News' Ben Gittleson

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., announced Tuesday that the House is expected to vote next week on the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package and that the vote could slide into the last weekend of February. 

"Members should be aware that the House may need to remain in session through the weekend next week to complete consideration of the American Rescue Plan," Hoyer said in a letter to colleagues Tuesday.

The House is expected to take up the Senate-passed version the second week of March.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel

The White House announced the start of an effort to allow U.S. entry to migrants who had been forced to wait in Mexico as their asylum cases made their way through immigration courts will begin Feb. 19 in a statement Tuesday. 

The White House says there will be an announcement of a virtual registration process "soon" that will allow eligible people to provide their information and receive instructions on when and where to arrive at the border. It remains unclear how quickly those who register will be summoned to begin the process in-person.

The start of the process will come one day after a major immigration reform bill is unveiled on Capitol Hill.  The statement reiterates warnings White House press secretary Jen Psaki has made from the briefing room podium, urging potential migrants not to come to the border now, especially in light of the pandemic. 

The Biden administration has promised test all those eligible for entry to the U.S. for COVID-19 before they cross the border.

"President Biden is committed to immigration reform in the long term, but it will take time," the statement acknowledges. "his is a crucial first step to communicate our respect for human rights and human dignity, which includes abiding by legal processes and health and safety protocols."

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinvosky

ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Mary Bruce asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki in a press briefing Tuesday if Biden's trip to Wisconsin today and a televised town hall were a way of taking his message about COVID relief directly to the American people and if it's a signal that the president was throwing in the towel on getting Republican support in Congress. 

"This is an opportunity, as you noted, to go out and have a conversation with the people of Wisconsin, people who agree with him or disagree with him. But if you look at the polls, they are very consistent. The vast majority of the American people like what they see in this package," Psaki said. "That should be an indication or should be noted I members of Congress as they consider whether they will vote for it or not."

When pressed if the visits were meant to put pressure on Republicans in Congress, Psaki brushed off the suggestion, arguing Biden’s focus is on connecting with Americans dealing with the impacts of COVID-19. 

“His objective is really to make sure he is engaging directly with the people who are impacted by the pandemic or impacted by the economic downturn, who are worried about whether they will get a shot, who don't know where to get information, who are worried about whether they will be able to put food on the table. That's the focus of this trip. Obviously, Republicans in Congress will have to make their own choice about whether they support the final package." Psaki said. "It's still working its way through Congress but the vast majority of the public supported including the vast majority of most members’ constituents so it's really questions for them."

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Mary Bruce