From Washington, DC.In the first 100 days of his administration, Democrat Joseph Biden was tasked with handling the matter “Four crises converging,” as the new United States government calls them. In terms of the epidemic. The country has barely vaccinated 5 percent of the population and is facing a logistical challenge of reaching nearly 330 million people. The administration’s start was also marked by an economy in trouble, which could not restore employment in February, climate change and racial injustice.
With his first actions, Biden severed a break with the policies implemented by Donald Trump in those four areas. Through a series of decrees, he tried to set the course for his administration and return the United States to the time of Barack Obama’s administration, when he was vice president. “The federal government must act quickly” was reiterated in the various documents that it signed this week.
The most urgent crisis is health. With 24 million cases and 400 thousand deathsIn the United States, the impact of the epidemic has been disproportionate compared to the rest of the world. The country accounts for only 4 percent of the world’s population, but it has a quarter of all infections and 20 percent of deaths.
Biden’s goal is to give One million doses per day in the first days of your administration. It doesn’t seem far fetched. During the final days of the Trump administration, vaccination in the United States has already reached this rate. Today the country accounts for more than 16 million first doses that have been applied. This represents only five percent of the country’s population.
When it comes to the search for racial justice, the president didn’t just start his term with an inauguration with a message of diversity. He also signed a decree stating that his administration’s policy would be that the federal government “seek a comprehensive approach.” Promote justice for all and include racist groups and others who have been historically neglectedAnd the marginalized and negatively affected by persistent poverty and inequality.
Biden still governs with an interim government. So far, the Senate has only confirmed to the Secretary of Defense, Lloyd AustinAnd the Director of National Intelligence, April Haines. And the rest of the candidates to fill the various positions pending approval by the Senate. In some cases, like Janet Yellen, Who has been nominated for the Treasury secretary, the preliminary hearings have already ended and a vote will take place in the early days of this week.
Yellen’s assertion is the key to completing the economic team. This is one of Biden’s priorities, which he hopes will be approved $ 1.9 billion. He believes it is necessary to support the economy, which has been hit hard by the epidemic.
According to government-run figures, more than 10 million are unemployed and 14 million are defaulting on their rent. The White House says that, too At least 29 million adults and eight million children do not have safe and continuous access to essential food.
It is clear that we are in an unstable moment in terms of the virus and the economy. “Without decisive action, we risk falling into a very dangerous economic hole, even more dangerous than the crisis in which we find ourselves,” the director of the National Economic Council told reporters on Friday.Brian Des.
One of the most important differences between the new administration and the previous administration is the importance it attaches Climate change. This is another crisis on Biden’s list. Among the first three decrees he signed was the one that restored the United States to the list of countries falling within the scope of Paris Agreement.
in addition to, The Keystone XL pipeline and oil pipeline permit has been revokedIt is a controversial project approved by Trump to transport oil from Canada to the United States. The decision did not satisfy the northern neighbor and the prime minister, Justin Trudeau, It was “frustrated.” No surprise: Alberta, one of Canada’s western provinces, is one of the project owners.
Trudeau was the first leader from another country that Biden spoke to after taking office. In the call, the new president highlighted the strategic importance of the relationship between the United States and Canada. According to the White House, the President also acknowledged his “disappointment with the decision to terminate the Keystone XL pipeline permit” and reiterated his “commitment to maintaining an active bilateral dialogue and deepening cooperation with Canada.” They both agreed on a “vision to promote a sustainable recovery of the economy”. They will talk again in a month.
Biden’s dialogue with the outside world now gives priority to neighbors. On Friday, the President also spoke with the President of Mexico, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. The White House reported that they had dealt with “a host of bilateral and regional issues,” but the focus of the call was immigration. The government stated that “the two leaders agreed to work to contain the flow of illegal immigration from Mexico to the United States, as well as to promote development in the Northern Triangle of Central America.”
On the call, the Democrat also discussed the outlines of his plan to curb immigration. This includes addressing root causes, Increase resettlement capacity and legal routes to enter the country, improve asylum processing and, above all, reverse the policies of the previous administration.
The government has not yet submitted Your immigration reform planBut the document could reach the Senate in “about three weeks,” as Univision published it Bob Mendes, Democratic senator from New Jersey.
The future of the initiative is uncertain. The Senate is still trying to adapt to the new situation of parity between the two parties, with 50 seats each, and it is difficult for Republicans to accompany the measure. Plus, you have a complete schedule.
In the coming weeks, the Senate will not be the only champion of negotiations over immigration reform and the economic bailout package.. Starting February 9, Trump impeachment measures will also begin. That would bring the billionaire back into center stage, at the same time that Biden needs a bipartisan partnership to get his plans started.