Why it matters: The speech kicks off the administration’s “Help is Here” campaign, which will see Biden and Vice President Harris travel the country to sell the benefits of the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package to the American public.
Worth noting: The U.S. as a whole has administered over 109 million vaccine doses, but 16 million came while former President Trump was still in office.
What they’re saying: “Over the next 10 days we’ll reach two goals, giant goals. The first is 100 million shots in people’s arms will have been completed within the next 10 days. And 100 million checks in people’s pockets in the next 10 days. Shots in arms and money in pockets,” said Biden.
- “And the plan does a lot more. It extends unemployment insurance for the 11 million Americans unemployed and any who will be unemployed in the near term.”
- “It will help hundreds of thousands of small businesses keep doors open, which makes a gigantic difference in neighborhoods and communities.”
- “It expands health care coverage and lowers health care costs for so many people. And it will cut child poverty in half in this country.”
Between the lines: Biden was asked whether he believes former President Trump should urge his supporters to get vaccinated, given the high rates of vaccine hesitancy among white Republicans.
- The president responded that he has spoken with his COVID team about the issue, and that the step that would have even more impact than Trump’s words is the endorsement of local doctors and members of the community.
- “I urge all local docs and ministers and priests to talk about why it’s important to get that vaccine. And even after that, until everyone is in fact vaccinated, to wear this mask,” Biden concluded.