Biden’s first 100 days agenda

PRESIDENTIAL POWER — Following their first week in office, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris work together to issue several executive orders ranging from COVID-19 relief, immigration policy and climate change action. This is just the beginning of Biden’s agenda for his first 100 days.

FIRST 100 DAYS BEGIN

Biden administration plans to address crises quickly

KYLE HAWLEY MANAGING EDITOR

As Joe Biden officially took his first seat as president in the Oval Office, his ambitious 100-day agenda rolled out.

Due to the hardships the nation is facing, Biden is dedicating his first 100 days to recovering from these issues. While the president is aiming to have 100 million Americans vaccinated by his hundredth day, he is urging Congress to quickly confirm his Cabinet secretaries and pass COVID-related legislation.

From coronavirus relief to reforming systemic racism, Biden knew his first 100 days in office would be no easy task—it would probably be the roughest start to a presidential administration since the Great Depression.

Throughout American history, the tone and efficiency of a presidency is often judged by the administration’s first 100 days in office.

“The first 100 days is not an effective way to judge a president. Most of our presidents since [the Great Depression] have not come into office during a huge crisis which requires such immediate action,” AP Government teacher Karen McNamara said. “Therefore, expecting other presidents to match [Roosevelt’s] record seems unrealistic.

However, presidents who do come in during a crisis have had to act fast while they have support in order to accomplish any kind of legislative agenda.”

Biden inherited a dreadful state of affairs, both domestically and internationally. This was no secret to the incoming administration or to the public. As the newly sworn-in president stood on the Capitol’s stage, he emphasized in his inaugural address that Americans “will press forward with speed and urgency, for we have much to do in this winter of peril and possibility.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has been at the forefront of everyone’s minds for nearly a year.

“Although it was not ideal, the Biden administration had to run their campaign on the promise that they would end this pandemic,” senior Emma Steel said. “Between climate change and other injustices, no other issue had a more significant impact on voting than COVID-19.”

The coronavirus pandemic plagued Biden’s agenda, forcing his administration to prioritize relief and vaccine distribution. The White House ordered an additional 200 million doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, and Congress passed a $1.9 trillion bill that includes $1,400 stimulus checks to most American citizens.

PRESIDENTS WHO DO COME IN DURING A CRISIS HAVE HAD TO ACT FAST WHILE THEY HAVE SUPPORT IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH ANY KIND OF LEGISLATIVE AGENDA.”

- KAREN MCNAMARA AP GOVERNMENT TEACHER

Republicans proposed a $580 billion counteroffer to the original plan. The Democratic Senate disregarded their bill and moved to vote on the current plan. It passed along party lines, not gaining support from any right-wing moderates.

“It is disappointing that Democrats weren’t willing to allow Republicans to propose amendments and changes to the trillion dollar plan,” said senior Jacob Fernicola, president of McLean Investors Club. “No Republican in either houses of Congress voted in favor because they were left in the dark, despite Biden claiming to be open to negotiations with Republican Senators.”

A major part of Biden’s agenda involves implementing science-based initiatives into his policy decisions regarding the coronavirus. From denouncing the protection of masks and encouraging ill Americans to take hydroxychloroquine, former President Donald Trump has been accused of ignoring advice from scientists and medical professionals. On his first day back in the White House Press Briefing Room, Dr. Anthony Fauci expressed his joy to work with Biden, who would not dictate what he says.

Another issue Biden swore to take a scientific approach on is the climate crisis. A majority of young voters rallied behind the Biden-Harris campaign due to their promises to reach netzero emissions no later than 2050. Hours after taking office, Biden repealed the Trump administration’s decision to depart from the Paris Agreement, a U.N. international treaty that pressures nations to fight global warming. The U.S. will officially reenter on Feb. 19.

“Biden is keeping his campaign promises to enact more comprehensive climate change policies,” senior Caroline Lucia said. “As a young conservative, it is important for the future of our party to develop plans to combat this crisis. It is refreshing to know that the federal government is finally prioritizing this issue; however, it is disappointing to see current Republicans blatantly ignore this issue.”

Biden is the first president in history to declare the crisis a threat to national security. He appointed former Secretary of State John Kerry to become his climate envoy to the National Security Council.

While the president is receiving bipartisan support with green deals, he is dividing the American people by discontinuing the construction of the Trump-era Keystone XL pipeline, an 875-mile pipe that would deliver heavy oil mixtures from Canada to Gulf Coast refineries. Frequently referred to as a “lifeline,” the pipeline construction’s cancellation resulted in 11,000 job losses. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has voiced his opposition to the decision.

During his first week in office, Biden also halted the construction of the border wall and assembled a task force that works to reunite families separated by immigration laws. In a controversial act, Biden issued an executive order that temporarily stopped all deportations during his first 100 days in office. This decision was not received well by ICE, border officials and most conservative Americans.

“His decision to stop deportations was a bad one,” Fernicola said. “Although we definitely need immigration reform, the U.S. can’t afford to be an open-invite country. We need security and order when it comes to the border.”

While the subject of immigration is a domestic security issue, Americans from both sides are adamant that Biden should continue the international troop withdrawal from the Middle East. The administration has been quiet on this topic since their transition.

“There are few things on which President Trump and I agree, but I did support his decision to remove U.S. soldiers from foreign territories,” said junior Eric Deeken, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America. “I hope President Biden continues to withdraw troops and bring an end to militant western imperialism. Occupying these nations was never justified, and the best time to bring our soldiers home is now.”

President Biden has been signing executive orders to push his agenda through. As of Feb. 5, Biden has issued a total of 28 executive orders. Republicans in Congress have accused the president of abusing his power of the presidency due to his ambitious start. Biden’s executive orders come at a time of gridlock. The Democrats have taken technical control of the Senate since they have Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking abilities. “The Senate will be the major disrupter for Biden’s legislative agenda. Previously, the filibuster was a rarely used tool to impede the passing of legislation in the Senate,” McNamara said. “Prior to 2000, the filibuster was only used on average about 17 times per year. That has changed dramatically since, with it being most heavily used during the Obama administration with over 200 votes of cloture taken that year.” The COVID-19 relief package is President Biden’s first major legislative victory for his administration, and his supporters and detractors alike will be watching closely to see how his first 100-day agenda affects individuals and the country as a whole.