“These actions are concrete and will provide immediate support to families who are being hit hard,” Brian Deese, head of the White House’s National Economic Council, said in a call to reporters Thursday night. But, he added, ‘It’s not enough. And much, much more is needed. ”
Through one executive order, Biden will ask the Department of Agriculture to increase food benefits and money to help families with school children buy groceries. He will ask the Treasury Department to consider taking action to ensure that more Americans who are eligible to receive economic relief tests can get it.
And he will appeal to the Department of Labor to explain guidelines that have so far forced U.S. workers who refused an offer to return to work to lose their unemployment benefits, even if they or their families would be at greater risk. pose when they return to the workplace.
The second order focuses on the protection of federal workers and contractors, in part through the restoration of collective bargaining power and the protection of workers through the repeal of measures signed by President Donald Trump. It also eliminates Schedule F, a class of workers introduced by Trump that stripped many federal civil servants of job protection.
It asks agencies to look at which federal employees earn less than $ 15 an hour and come up with recommendations to get them above pay.
The orders are the latest in a flash of executive action Biden has taken since taking office on Wednesday. The more than two dozen measures he signed were aimed in part at reversing the pandemic, tackling climate change and curbing some of Trump’s policies, including the so-called Muslim ban on travelers from certain countries.
Deese called on Congress to pass the U.S. bailout plan, which Biden drew up last week, which proposed $ 1.9 billion in additional federal funding to tackle the pandemic, another round of direct payments to workers. provide families and extend unemployment benefits, among others. But Republicans slammed the proposal, saying it was too expensive and came too soon after the $ 900 billion aid package passed by Congress last month.