President Biden Joe Biden House Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot MORE is set to travel to Houston Friday to meet with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and local leaders after a rare bout of severe winter weather left dozens dead and millions without power for multiple days. The visit will mark Biden’s third official trip as president and his first to a disaster-stricken area. In addition to addressing the storm response, he’s also expected to visit a facility distributing COVID-19 vaccines. The White House says Biden will spend much of the day with Abbott, who has faced significant criticism for how the state handled the storm. More than 4 million people were without power for days as temperatures plunged below freezing and many were eventually left without water as well. Louisiana and Oklahoma suffered significant storm damage as well. ADVERTISEMENT "They'll be surveying the damage and I'm sure [Biden will] be getting an update and briefings from him directly,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki Jen Psaki Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president Overnight Defense: Biden sends message with Syria airstrike | US intel points to Saudi crown prince in Khashoggi killing | Pentagon launches civilian-led sexual assault commission Biden administration to give Congress full classified briefing on Syria strikes by next week MORE told reporters Thursday. Biden is also expected to meet with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner Sylvester Turner Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm Biden turns focus to winter storm with Texas trip Houston mayor: Biden visit 'would not be a distraction' MORE (D), his office told The Hill. Biden is scheduled to tour the Harris County Emergency Operations Center. He and first lady ...
Texas power
Joe Biden Visits Texas After Devastating Winter Storms
President Joe Biden visited Houston, Texas, on Friday to witness the aftermath of a series of winter storms that crippled the state for several days. “Our prayers are with you in the aftermath of this winter storm,” Biden said, vowing that the federal government would act as “true partners” in their recovery. Millions of people in the state lost power for days, and water pipes burst in the freezing temperatures. “We’re in for the long haul,” Biden promised, citing the federal aid that he would make available. Biden traveled to Houston with First Lady Jill Biden to visit with local leaders, Congressional Democrats, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, and Texas Sen. John Cornyn as well as volunteers in the recovery effort. “We’re not here today as Democrats or Republicans, we’re here today as Americans,” he said. US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden visit a FEMA Covid-19 vaccination facility at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas on February 26, 2021. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Biden received a recovery briefing from FEMA and government officials and visited a local food bank coordinating relief for Texans suffering the results of the storm. US President Joe Biden elbow bumps a volunteer during a visit at the Houston Food Bank in Houston, Texas on February 26, 2021. – Biden is visiting Houston, Texas following severe winter storms which left much of the state without electricity for days. (Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP) (Photo by MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) “We’re here to help, so put us to work!” Biden said as he arrived. He was spotted packing canned peaches into a box with volunteers. Later Biden visited a FEMA coronavirus vaccination station at NRG stadium, promoting the ongoing fight to get Americans vaccinated. He repeatedly urged Americans to wear their masks, socially distance, and get vaccinated when they had the chance. “For God’s sake wear your mask. Wear your mask. It’s not a ...
Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm
President Biden Joe Biden House Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Biden to hold virtual bilateral meeting with Mexican president More than 300 charged in connection to Capitol riot MORE spent Friday in Texas receiving a briefing on the recent winter storm and surveying a local food bank, pledging to help the state recover from the effects of harsh weather and power outages. "Our prayers are with you in the aftermath of this winter storm," Biden said in remarks at NRG Stadium in Houston. "We will be true partners to help you recovery and rebuild from these storms and this pandemic and this economic crisis. We are in for the long haul." Biden spent most of the day with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and was briefed on ongoing recovery efforts at the Harris County Emergency Operations Center. Biden was told of ongoing efforts to repair water systems in Harris County, where 57,000 residents remain under boil water notices. ADVERTISEMENT He and first lady Jill Biden Jill Biden Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm The Hill's Morning Report - Presented by The AIDS Institute - Senate ref axes minimum wage, House votes today on relief bill Biden turns focus to winter storm with Texas trip MORE later toured the Houston Food Bank, where they met with local volunteers. Biden also met with Sen. John Cornyn John Cornyn Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm Partisan headwinds threaten Capitol riot commission Biden turns focus to winter storm with Texas trip MORE (R-Texas), Democratic Reps. Sylvia Garcia Sylvia Garcia Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm Biden turns focus to winter storm with Texas trip K Street navigates virtual inauguration week MORE , Sheila Jackson Lee Sheila Jackson Lee Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm ...
The Memo: CPAC fires starting gun on 2024
Auditions for the 2024 Republican nomination have begun — and several big names are trying out for the role of the future Donald Trump. There’s one problem, however. The former president may not be ready to cede the stage to an understudy. Trump will give the keynote speech Sunday afternoon at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which this year is being held in Orlando, Fla. The conference began in earnest on Friday. ADVERTISEMENT Trump’s speech will be his most high-profile public engagement since leaving office after having been impeached for a second time following the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. He is widely expected to win a straw poll conducted among CPAC attendees earlier Sunday. Trump has said nothing definite about running again. But even his detractors acknowledge he would be the strong favorite for the GOP nomination — even as those skeptics are also adamant he would lose a general election. “Trump will be the nominee if he decides to run,” said Rick Tyler, a conservative strategist who is openly critical of Trump. Sen. Mitt Romney Willard (Mitt) Mitt Romney Trump at CPAC foments 2022 GOP primary wars Democrats scramble to rescue minimum wage hike Media circles wagons for conspiracy theorist Neera Tanden MORE (R-Utah), who voted for Trump’s conviction during both his impeachment proceedings, acknowledged the same reality in comments earlier this week. Trump allies are fueling his fire. Jason Miller, a senior advisor to Trump’s 2020 campaign, tweeted a Suffolk University/USA Today poll earlier this week showing 76 percent of Republican voters would back Trump if he mounted another presidential bid. CPAC, a traditional proving ground for Republicans seeking to build buzz for a presidential campaign, takes place amid ructions within the GOP over the former president and his legacy. ADVERTISEMENT Rep. Liz Cheney Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney Trump Jr.: There ...
Partisan headwinds threaten Capitol riot commission
Plans for a 9/11-style commission to probe the Jan. 6 attack are running into partisan stumbling blocks in Congress. House Democrats are hoping to vote on legislation establishing the investigative panel before they leave town in mid-March, giving them a matter of days to try to reach a deal with Republicans. But clashes among congressional leaders over both the structure and scope of the panel are threatening to derail the commission before it even gets underway. ADVERTISEMENT “I think a commission is a good idea but it can’t be a partisan commission,” said Sen. John Cornyn John Cornyn Biden pledges support for Texas amid recovery from winter storm Partisan headwinds threaten Capitol riot commission Biden turns focus to winter storm with Texas trip MORE (R-Texas), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee and an adviser to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell Addison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnell Trump at CPAC foments 2022 GOP primary wars Hawley gets boisterous ovation at CPAC for Electoral College objection Why Congress must invoke the 14th Amendment now MORE (R-Ky.). Speaker Nancy Pelosi Nancy Pelosi House Democrats pass sweeping .9T COVID-19 relief bill with minimum wage hike Budget Committee chair pledges to raise minimum wage: 'Hold me to it' Capitol review to recommend adding more fencing, 1,000 officers: report MORE (D-Calif.) and McConnell briefly spoke about the idea of an independent commission on Tuesday night at a ceremony for the 500,000 Americans who have died from the coronavirus, a source confirmed to The Hill. Pelosi later pledged during her weekly press conference that she would do “anything to have it be bipartisan.” But so far, a draft bill has come under fire from Republicans, whose support will be needed in the Senate in order to establish the commission. There is also public skepticism from some Democrats and leaders of the 9/11 panel that Pelosi is ...
