WASHINGTON, D.C. (Texas Insider Report) — Saying he believes he has political momentum after passage of the massive $1.9 trillion CoronaVirus Relief Bill, President Biden says he plans to move ahead with his mammoth Climate Change & Infrastructure Spending Packages and won’t be distracted by the rapidly growing, and according to administration officials unexpected crises at the U.S.-Mexicao Border.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that Mr. Biden understands the frustration of gun control advocates, and noted the administration is engaging with Congress on legislation.
“We're continuing to review and consider what the options are for Executive Actions, and we hope to have an update on that soon."I don’t have an exact day for you at this point in time,” Psaki told reporters on Monday.
Biden will lay out his Climate Change & Infrastructure Spending Plan during a speech in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Administration officials have reportedly been working on the proposals for several weeks.
Unlike the COVID-19 legislation, as well as his record-setting number of Executive Orders, Biden is hoping to gain Republican support for the newst spending proposals, which may be split into two bills.
However, the unusual step of using the "budget reconciliation" option to pass a wish list of Democrat initiatives, which are likely to be included in the spending bills it without GOP support, is increasingly being discussed in the Senate.
The White House is hopeful that at least one of the packages might be passed this summer.
“If there is a moment for something to really happen and make a big difference in the competitiveness of the country, he’s going to pursue that path,” said Sarah Bianchi, a top economic adviser to Biden when he served under President Barack Obama as Vice President. “It doesn’t mean he can’t do other things, but it means you don’t get knocked off course.”
During his first official press conference last week – the latest held by a newly elected president in over a century when compared to others – Biden signaled he intends to continue his focus on the previously announced infrastructure package.
This comes despite the rapidly growing wave of unaccompanied illegal border crossers streaming over the nation's southern Texas-Mexico border, as well as the two recent mass shootings that took the lives of 18 people.
Biden’s comments bothered gun control advocates, who see it as an indication by Biden that gun control legislation was not a top priority.
During his first official press conference last week – the latest held by a newly elected president in over a century when compared to others – Biden signaled he intends to continue his focus on the previously announced infrastructure package.
This comes despite the rapidly growing wave of unaccompanied illegal border crossers streaming over the nation's southern Texas-Mexico border, as well as the two recent mass shootings that took the lives of 18 people.
Biden’s comments bothered gun control advocates, who see it as an indication by Biden that gun control legislation was not a top priority.In tackling infrastructure, the Biden Administration say it will try to achieve what his predecessors – former Presidents Trump and Obama – were unable to.
“He has always wanted to do this, and the sense is that he wants to go big,” said Norman Anderson, chairman and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure, who noted that Biden attended a summit hosted by his organization at the end of his term as vice president.
Still, Biden is having to balance his latest legislative push with a handful of compounding challenges, including the shootings in Atlanta and Boulder, Colo.
When asked about action on gun control at last week’s press conference, Biden pointed to the importance of timing his agenda properly.
“Successful presidents — better than me — have been successful, in large part, because they know how to time what they’re doing — order it, decide and prioritize what needs to be done,” Biden said.
It wasn’t what gun control advocates wanted to hear. Still, advocates say they are encouraged based on conversations they have had with White House officials and Biden’s own commitment that the issue won’t be on the permanent backburner.
“We know that they are working now on a variety of things to tackle this issue,” said Kris Brown, president of the Brady Campaign. “From our perspective, they are doing the right things.”
The Biden administration is also under pressure to work with Congress to reform the immigration system. The House passed two immigration bills earlier this month that would provide a pathway to citizenship for legal status for young undocumented immigrants and undocumented farm workers.
