House expected to pass COVID relief bill next week

Biden received ashes for Ash Wednesday at Wolfington Hall at Georgetown University from Rev. Brian O. McDermott, S.J. on Wednesdsay morning.

Due to COVID-19, the Vatican has advised that ashes be sprinkled on parishioner's heads, not swiped in a cross on their foreheads, and that they be given without the traditional blessing.

Biden is only the country's second Catholic president and frequently attends services.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Sarah Kolinvosky

Harris was interviewed on NBC News' "Today" show Wednesday morning, reiterating much of what President Biden said Tuesday night in his CNN town hall in Milwaukee, including doubling down on Biden's statement that there will be enough vaccine available by the end of July for any American who wants one. Harris could not offer a straight answer on whether teachers should have to return to the classroom before they are vaccinated. Despite sidestepping many questions, she did say the administration wants to make vaccines for teachers a priority.

Harris was asked twice about the CDC guidance that recommends against reopening schools in so-called COVID-19 red zones -- effectively meaning the majority of students should not be back in the classroom -- and attempted to dodge on the question.

"Well, let's first say this, that in the last four weeks, schools are opening every week, more schools are opening. It is because we are supplementing what needs to happen around the vaccinations getting to states, but also because folks -- we're seeing progress. When folks are wearing masks, when they're getting vaccinated, when they're social distancing, we're seeing progress there," Harris argued, adding "what they have recommended are exactly that, recommendations, about how to reopen safely if they've been closed, how to stay open if they have been opened."

Harris also sought to clarify the administration's goals on reopening schools, saying the administration wants "as many K through 8 schools as possible" to reopen within the first 100 days. "Our goal is that it will be five days a week. So we have to work to achieve that goal."

Harris weighed in on vaccinations for teachers as well, saying the administration viewed them as a priority, but it was ultimately up to the states to create their distribution guidelines.

"The states are making decisions individually about where they will be on the list of who gets vaccinated. I believe they should be a priority. The president believes they should be a priority," Harris said.

Harris also defended the massive price on COVID-19 relief comparing the pandemic to a natural disaster, saying "a national emergency, a big problem, requires a big solution."

Harris again did not bite on impeachment, dodging the question to argue she is focused on pandemic relief.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle and Jordyn Phelps

Members of the audience continued to ask about vaccinations and how to manage fear for those who are immune-compromised and still don't qualify for early vaccination.

"The states make the decisions on who is in what order. I can make recommendations -- and for federal programs, I can do that, as president of the United States -- but I can't tell the state 'you must move such and such a group of people up,'" he said.

Biden was also asked when Americans can expect things to get back to normal, but said he was cautioned by health officials not to make a prediction. He said that he has hope that the end is near.

"I don't want to over promise anything here. I told you when I ran and when I got elected, I will always level with you. But it matters. It matters whether you continue to wear that mask. It matters whether you continue to socially distance. It matters whether you wash your hands with hot water. It -- those things matter. They matter. And that can save a lot of lives while we're getting to this point where we get to herd immunity."

A parent in the audience asked Biden about this plan and recommendations to get students back to schools.

"What we found out is there are certain things that make it rational and easy to go back to the brick and mortar building," Biden said. "One, first of all, making sure everybody is wearing protective gear. It's available to students as well as to teachers, the janitors, the people who work in the cafeteria, the bus drivers. Secondly, organizing in smaller pods, which means that's why we need more teachers."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released new guidelines to reopen schools amid the new COVID-19 variants.

Cooper followed up with a question about the Biden administration's goal of reopening schools in the first 100 days of his administration, "You're now saying that means those schools may only be open for at least one day a week?"

"No, that's not true. That's what was reported, but that's not true. It was a mistake in the communication. What I've -- what I'm talking about is, I said opening the majority of schools in K through 8th grade, because they're the easiest to open, the most needed to be open, in terms of the impact on children and families having to stay home," Biden responded.

The president also said that he believes a significant percentage of schools -- kindergarten through eighth grade -- will be opened back up closer to the end of his first 100 days in office.