COVID-19 Roundups
Biden’s Build Back Better for Black Communities, CBC Efforts to Advance Voting Rights: Aug. 19 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration How is President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda helping Black communities? The White House released a fact sheet on how the Build Back Better agenda will help Black communities. The document highlights President Biden’s plans to lower costs, cut taxes, and create jobs. Specific policy initiatives include lowering costs for prescription drugs, health…
A Significant Black Confirmation, Infrastructure Bill Passed in the Senate & More: Aug. 11 Joint Center Roundup
The Joint Center team will be releasing an abbreviated roundup this week and next. We will resume our more robust roundup in two weeks. Biden Administration Eunice C. Lee confirmed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit: Ms. Lee will become “the only former federal public defender among the bench’s 10 active…
Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal Makes Headway, Pushing for More African American Appointments & More: July 30 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Senate votes to move forward with bipartisan infrastructure deal: In a 62-32 vote, the Senate voted to continue with the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure deal. The deal includes provisions that are consistent with recommendations by Joint Center Tech Policy Director Dr. Dominique Harrison in her issue brief on expanding broadband in the Black Rural South, including a $65 billion…
Infrastructure, Historic Appointments & Diversity Among Biden Chiefs & Senate Committee Top Staff: July 23 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Eviction protection: While the federal eviction moratorium is set to expire at the end of July, Forbes reports the Biden Administration is “under fire” as state and local officials only distributed $3 billion of the over $46 billion in rental aid allocated by Congress amid the coronavirus pandemic. On July 21, The White House held its second eviction…
Voting Rights, Ranking Senate Dems’ Staff Diversity, Infrastructure & More: July 16 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Biden on policing: During a meeting with mayors and police chiefs, President Biden said Americans owed law enforcement and community leaders “big time,” reports the New York Times. The meeting was reportedly an “increasingly urgent effort by the White House to demonstrate that the president is aggressively confronting gun violence as homicides rise…
Condemning Assassination of Haitian President, White House Civil Rights Meeting, Investing in Human Infrastructure: July 8 Joint Center Roundup
Due to this week’s holiday, the Joint Center is releasing an abbreviated roundup. We will resume our more robust roundup next week. Biden Administration Biden condemns assassination of Haitian president Jovenel Moïse: In a statement, President Biden condemned the “heinous act,” offered condolences, and indicated that the U.S. stands “ready to assist.” White House Press…
Bipartisan Agreement on Infrastructure, Analyzing The White House Budget: July 2 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Bipartisan agreement on infrastructure: Lawmakers have reportedly come to an agreement on an infrastructure deal. The $1.2 trillion bipartisan deal, introduced as the INVEST in America Act, will direct “federal investments in roads, bridges, transit, rail, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, reimagines our national transportation policies and helps meet the President’s vision to…
Voting Rights Reform Blocked, Biden Supports Sentencing Disparity Fix: June 23 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Biden administration endorses bill to end longtime drug sentencing disparity: President Biden endorsed the Eliminating a Quantifiably Unjust Application of the Law Act, or Equal Act, which if passed, “would end the disparity in sentences between crack and powder cocaine offenses.” In 1986, then-Senator Biden crafted the bill that mandated “a five-year minimum sentence for trafficking…
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Confirmed, Juneteenth Becomes Federal Holiday: June 17 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Senate confirms Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson: Judge Brown Jackson will serve on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit after the Senate confirmed her with a 54-44 vote. She is President Joe Biden’s first nominee for the DC Appeals court, which is often a stepping stone to the U.S. Supreme Court. Several organizations…
Infrastructure, Fair Housing Rules Reinstated, Civil Rights Leaders Meet with Manchin & More: June 9 Joint Center Roundup
Biden Administration Infrastructure negotiations shift: President Biden ends infrastructure negotiations with Senator Shelley Capito (R-WV) and continues the discussion with a bipartisan group of senators who are aiming to release a proposal by the end of the week. President Biden’s decision to move forward came after the “GOP group’s refusal to significantly increase the number of new…