Biden calls for quick action on his aid package from
Congress.
https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/02/05/us/joe-biden-trump-impeachment
TRANSCRIPT
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‘We’re
Still in the Teeth of This Pandemic,’ Biden Says
President
Biden called on Congress to act quickly on his proposed $1.9 trillion
coronavirus relief package on Friday, in a speech following a weak jobs report.
“We’re
still the teeth of this pandemic. In fact, January was the single-deadliest
month of the whole pandemic. We lost nearly 100,000 lives. I know some in
Congress think we’ve already done enough to deal with the crisis in the
country. Others think that things are getting better, and we can afford to sit
back. And either do little or do nothing at all. That’s not what I see. I see
enormous pain in this country. A lot of folks out of work, a lot of folks going
hungry, staring at the ceiling tonight, wondering, what am I going to do
tomorrow? And I believe the American people are looking right now to their
government for help, to do our job, to not let them down. So I’m going to act,
and I’m going to act fast. I’d like to be — I’d like to be doing it with the
support of Republicans. I’ve met with Republicans and some really fine people
want to get something done, but they’re just not willing to go as far as I
think we have to go. I’ve told both Republicans and Democrats that’s my
preference, to work together. But if I have to choose between getting help
right now to Americans who are hurting so badly and getting bogged down in a
lengthy negotiation or compromising on a bill that’s up to the crisis, that’s
an easy choice. I’m going to help the American people who are hurting now.
That’s why I’m so grateful to the House and the Senate for moving so fast on the
American Rescue Plan. Job No. 1 of the American Rescue Plan is vaccines,
vaccines. The second, the American Rescue Plan is going to keep the commitment
of $2,000 — $600 has already gone out, $1,400 checks to people who need it. I’m
not cutting the size of the checks. They’re going to be $1,400, period. That’s
what the American people were promised.”
President
Biden said Friday that a weak jobs report created new urgency for his proposed
$1.9 trillion economic aid package, and that he would not delay the bill in
hopes of attracting Republican support.
“It is very
clear our economy is still in trouble,” Mr. Biden said during remarks at the
White House.
“I know
some in Congress think we’ve already done enough to deal with the crisis in the
country,” he said. “Others think that things are getting better and we can
afford to sit back and either do little or do nothing at all. That’s not what I
see. I see enormous pain in this country. A lot of folks out of work. A lot of
folks going hungry.”
Mr. Biden’s
comments came as the Labor Department’s reported on Friday that the economy
added only 49,000 jobs in January, and just 6,000 in the private sector. The
labor market remains 10 million jobs below its pre-pandemic levels.
Democrats
are moving quickly to pass Mr. Biden’s American Rescue Plan — which centers on
$1,400 direct checks to low- and middle-income Americans, money to fight the
pandemic and several expansions of the social safety net — through Congress
with limited changes. House committee chairs and Democratic leaders met with
the president at the White House to discuss legislative strategy on Friday
morning, after which Speaker Nancy Pelosi said it was her goal to have a bill
approved and on to the Senate within two weeks.
Senate leaders
could begin working on their own bill, mirroring the House effort, even before
the House approves its legislation, in hopes of delivering a final package to
Mr. Biden’s desk before supplemental unemployment benefits are set to expire in
mid-March.
In his
speech, Mr. Biden took aim at Republicans, saying that while he wants to get
bipartisan support for his proposal, he will not engage in a long debate in
order to get a less-than-adequate package through Congress.
“If I have
to choose between getting help right now to Americans who are hurting so badly
and getting bogged down in a lengthy negotiation or compromising on a bill
that’s up to the crisis, that’s an easy choice. I’m going to help the American
people who are hurting now,” he said. “What Republicans have proposed is either
to do nothing or not enough.”
Briefing
reporters after the remarks, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, cited
poll numbers showing bipartisan support among American voters for the plan as
evidence that Mr. Biden was delivering on his campaign promise to unify the
country.
“The
president ran on unifying the country and putting forward ideas that would help
address the crises we’re facing,” she said. “He didn’t run on a promise to
unite the Democratic and Republican Party into one party in Washington. This
package has the vast majority of support from the American public.”
In his
speech, Mr. Biden also allowed for the possibility that his plans could change
slightly to appease moderates in both parties, acknowledging that he favored
restricting the direct payments so that people earning more than $300,000 would
not get them. He did not specify what threshold he would accept to begin
phasing out the checks. But he made clear the starting amount would not change.
“I’m not
cutting the size of the checks,” he said. “They’re going to be $1,400, period. That’s
what the American people were promised.”
— Jim Tankersley
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