Biden says 'no time to waste' on COVID relief bill

He made brief remarks Saturday after the House passed the legislation.

This is Day 40 of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.


0

Biden issues major disaster declaration for Oklahoma

Biden issued a major disaster declaration for Oklahoma in the wake of winter storms in the U.S. south. The declaration covers 16 counties in Oklahoma and allows increased federal funding for recovery.

On Saturday, Biden issued a major disaster declaration for Texas, which freed up funds to aid recovery efforts after the storms left millions without power. The president is set to visit Texas on Friday to see relief efforts and visit a vaccine distribution facility.

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky


GOP finds risky form of unity in opposing COVID relief bill: The Note

The Republican Party is both less divided and more divided than it seems at the moment -- and not in ways that glide along the easiest political paths.

On the question of former President Donald Trump, the GOP is less divided than a colorful House leadership news conference might make it seem. The party still belongs primarily to Trump, as the CPAC gathering that begins Thursday in Florida will demonstrate.

On the question of President Joe Biden's agenda, there's actually more GOP dissension than meets the eye. The first floor votes on Biden's COVID-19 package are coming Friday in the House, yet united Republican opposition in Congress doesn't align with public polling on the topic.

Among the public at large, Biden and his COVID plans are considerably more popular than Trump and opposing COVID relief, at least for now. But Republican lawmakers appear to fear more political blowback in opposing Trump than voting "no" on COVID bills.

-ABC News Political Director Rick Klein


Vilsack sworn in as agriculture secretary via Zoom

Tom Vilsack was sworn in as the secretary of agriculture Wednesday evening in a ceremony the vice president said was her first via Zoom.

Harris was in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with a pool of journalists and Vilsack appeared on a large screen with his family.

"Congratulations, Mr. Secretary and to the whole family," Harris said after he was sworn in. "The president is so excited. We've got a lot of work to do and we'll do it together."

Vilsack is returning to a role he held in the Obama administration for eight years. He previously served two terms as Iowa's governor.

He was confirmed on Tuesday by a vote of 92-7.


Biden reverses Trump proclamation restricting immigration during pandemic

Biden has reversed former President Donald Trump's presidential proclamation restricting immigration during the COVID-19 pandemic citing the economy, saying it does not advance the interests of the United States.

"To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world. And it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery," Biden wrote in a proclamation of his own.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle


US sanctions 2 more Myanmar military commanders

The U.S. Treasury announced sanctions on two more Myanmar military commanders, specifically citing the killing of three peaceful protesters in recent days.

Moe Myint Tun and Maung Maung Kyaw are both generals who were named by the military to join the state administration council, the coup’s new ruling body.

This brings the total number of sanctioned Myanmar officials to 12, and it comes days after the British and Canadian governments followed the Biden administration in sanctioning coup leaders. The European Union’s foreign affairs council announced Monday that it “stands ready to adopt restrictive measures targeting those directly responsible for the military coup and their economic interests” and review Myanmar’s trade status.

“Those directly responsible” have shown no sign of even acknowledging whatever financial pressure these penalties bring -- although it is meant as a message to the millions who have protested in recent days against the coup that the U.S. is actively watching.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Biden’s call for the military to relinquish power, free political prisoners, and halt attacks on peaceful protests, saying Monday evening in a statement, “We will not hesitate to take further action against those who perpetrate violence and suppress the will of the people. We will not waver in our support for the people of Burma.”

-ABC News' Conor Finnegan